Familiar Skies: Part 1

by Neon-Nights-Library

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Mystery, Princess Cadance, Fluttershy, Adventure, Sunset Shimmer, Princess Celestia, Alternate Universe, Twilight Sparkle
Length: 33632

A very different set of circumstance, with very familiar faces...

"Isn't it fascinating how even the smallest decisions can effect a ponies' life?

When one small pegasus doesn't win a race, the lives and destiny's of so many other ponies are effected.

One, singular act, and yet an entire world is seemingly turned upside down.

How many other paths have been changed? How many familiar faces have become new?"

The time of Nightmare Moon's return draws ever closer, and Celestia knows it's only a matter of time before she'll have to confront her sister again. After losing touch with the elements, and the many years spent apart weighing on her, Celestia isn't entirely sure she can handle Nightmare Moon's return on her own. So, with the help of her most trusted student: Sunset Shimmer, and her adopted daughter: Cadence, Celestia is determined to bring up a new generation of magical scholars and warriors. Hoping to be her best bet against Nightmare Moon's return.

Many things are different in this world, and many lives have changed from one incident not happening the way it did in other worlds. Despite that set-back, ponies lives continue and flourish, and change in un-expected ways.

Cover art by Neon-Nights-Library (me)

Published 2024-06-26 21:50:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-12-27 17:04:39 UTC

Prologue

Gentle beams of sunlight washed the halls of Canterlot castle, painting the walls and floor in a pale, golden light. Soon it would be time to set the sun, but for now, Queen Celestia was intent on strolling through the halls of her home. As she passed through a smaller corridor, it's rooms harboring storage shelves of spells and books, she heard a faint clatter come from a room whose door was marked with a warning sign.

Her ears pricked at this, and she felt a burst of anxiety sprout in her. The sound had come from the room in which she stored spell-books on the dark magic of Equestria. She took a tentative step forward, taking sudden caution to ensure she made no noise herself, so as to not alert the potential trespasser of her presence. Carefully, she leaned forward and looked through the small gap of the barely open door.

Inside, was of course walls lined with spell-books, potion vials and artifacts. In the center of the dimly lit room was a table, on which was sprawled various scrolls and book pages, all scattered about in a chaotic manner. Sat at that table, surrounded by the various enchanted pages and dark cloud of black magic spilling from her horn, was Celestia's own faithful student, Sunset Shimmer.

The brief pang of fear in Celestia bubbled into a sickening feeling of dread, and betrayal. Sunset, and any student whom Celestia had taken under her wing, were forbidden from studying dark magic. It was in part from the dangerous nature of the magic itself, and in other part the intention of dark magic. The way those spell books and artifacts called out to ponies, enticing them, seducing them, and then corrupting them... She couldn't let that happen again- she WOULDN'T let that happen again.

Forgoing all intentions of staying quiet, Celestia slammed open the door to the small room. The bang of the wooden door against the wall startled Sunset, who dropped the book she was so closely studying, and whipping around to see what, or who caused the disturbance. The unicorn's face quickly changed from frustration to dread as she saw the Alicorn queen standing in the doorway. Her massive white wings drawn, closing any remaining gaps in the entrance that her mane and body didn't already.

The voice that Sunset had been hearing for those past weeks shrieked in her mind, raging and calling her to "Take action now!" "Fight her now!" "Take over now!" Sunset yelped, raising a defense hoof to her head, the sharp words stinging and stabbing the inside of her skull. Celestia's guard immediately dropped as she saw Sunset clutch her head in pain, and the dark cloud of magic begging to swirl and boil into a fierce storm. Celestia knew she had only moments to stop Sunset, before the magic that was holding her fully took over.

The Alicorn rushed to Sunset, and gripped her shoulder, pulling the smaller Unicorn into an embrace. It was in part because she feared for the safety of her student, and in part because of what she needed to do next. Celestia's horn lit in a heavenly glow as her magic sparked, and reached its way to the dark cloud surrounding Sunset. The storm resisted, lashing back at Celestia, and sending tiny sparks of magic flying off into the room.

Celestia ignored this, and concentrated harder, pushing her magic into the cloud. Her skull rang as she did so, as if she was pushing head first against a mountain side. Still, she persisted, her magic sparking and sputtering its way through the black magic, until finally reaching the tip of Sunset's horn. At this Sunset cried out, and leaned into Celestia harder. Celestia was sure she felt the warmth of tears against her chest as Sunset cried out.

The voice was screaming, unearthly sounds at her now, forfeiting all understandable language. The shrieks stabbed and rattled her mind, she wanted it to stop, she wanted it to end. Celestia felt her magic grip onto the cloud, and without a moment's hesitation she flung her head back. Her magic ripped the cloud from Sunset's horn, and flung it up and into the air. Celestia let go of Sunset for the moment, and focused on the entity. She scowled as she looked at the wriggling thing, it's dark, shapeless form writhing in the grip of her magic.

From the base of her horn, Celestia lit a spell that would terminate the thing. The pure magic swelled from the base, and shot its way through her horn, blasting into the cloud, and dissolving it in a bath of pure, bright light. Once not an ounce of the cloud could be seen, Celestia drew her attention back to Sunset. The Unicorn lay crumpled on the ground at Celestia's hooves, her head pressed against the floor. Celestia could see from the way her shoulders shuddered, that she was sobbing intensely.

The Alicorn leaned down slowly, and rested on the floor beside Sunset, drawing her legs in and spreading her wings across the floor around her. Gently, she lifted one wing, and brushed Sunset's back. Sunset shot her head up and looked at her mentor, tears staining her cheeks and pinning her coat to her face. Her large turquoise eyes pleaded with Celestia as she looked at her. Celestia felt her heart break slightly as she saw her student's expression, so much fear and deep sadness.

"I- I'm sorry!" Sunset's voice cracked as she finally spoke. Her head fell to the floor once more, and her eyes clamped shut. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Her breathe shuddered as she pleaded, letting herself sob intensely. "Please- please forgive me your majesty! I didn't know what I was doing..." She heaved more tears with her final words, the floor drowning in a small puddle under her face. Celestia let her own emotions take over for the moment, tears peeking their way out of her eyes as she replied.

"Sunset..." She spoke, looking down at her student with such care and worry. "It's alright, you're okay. It will BE okay. I forgive you." Sunset opened her eyes once more, looking up at Celestia with worry and confusion. "I... was going to do something bad." Sunset said. Celestia blinked and nodded.

"I know, but it wouldn't have been you who was in control." Before Sunset could reply, Celestia continued her explanations, looking around the room of dark magic as she did so. "It tells you things, things you want to hear, or might even believe. It draws you in, makes you promises. And, when it's done enough, when it has you fully in it's grasp, it takes you over. You're still in there, somewhat, and you can see everything. But it makes you do things... things you might not've done otherwise."

More tears peeked their way through as Celestia spoke, falling daintily down her face. Sunset noticed this, and felt more pained, realizing how much trouble she'd caused her teacher, mentor... her friend. Sunset lifted her head, and pulled her hooves in close to her body, suddenly feeling inadequate to be so close to Celestia. "But I do not blame you, Sunset Shimmer." Celestia drew her attention away from the objects in the room, and back to her student. Celestia lifted a hoof delicately to Sunset's face, lifting the Unicorn's chin to meet her own.

"I made a promise to teach and guide you... but I clearly have not done enough to keep you safe. For that, I am sorry Sunset. I never wish for you to feel as though you are not enough, or that I do not value you." Celestia lowered her hoof, and began to rise. Sunset hesitatingly rose with her. "No-one can replace you, my student." A sudden thought occurred to Celestia and she gestured for Sunset to walk with her. "There is something that I should tell you... that I should have told you long ago."

Celestia walked out of the room, Sunset quickly following after her. Celestia looked back at the door, shut it and quickly put a binding spell on it, so that no-one else would be tempted by those dark spells. The Queen walked down the halls of the castle, and finally into the throne room, Sunset Shimmer following closely behind. Celestia stopped in the middle of the room, quietly observing the sunlight, as it cast its light into the stained glass murals in the halls, bouncing brilliant colors across the room.

Celestia turned to face Sunset, and breathed in a small sigh. Her student stood before her, her head hung low in fear and shame. "Sunset... I am sure that as a foal you were told the tale of the Mare in the Moon?" Celestia asked. Sunset's head pricked up in surprise at this, looking at Celestia inquisitively.

"Yes... My father would read it to me and my brother before bed." She wasn't sure why Celestia was asking about a foals tale, considering all that had just happened, a bedtime story didn't seem to be all that important.

Celestia looked out at the sun as she spoke, her horn lighting with magic as she began lowering the sun. "The tale it speaks of, is more than true. My younger sister... Princess Luna, fell to the call of the dark magic. It saw the pain in her heart, and festered in it. I was forced to banish her, and I have ruled the day and night in her absence." The sun vanished behind the horizon, and in the opposite section of the sky, rose the pale glowing moon, clearly plastered on its surface the silhouette of a mare's head.

Sunset watched as the moon crept its way into the night sky, the deep blue being speckled with dots of tiny stars. "I lost my sister to the dark magics... I do not wish to lose anyone else so close to me to its clutches again." Sunset gulped, the guilt of her almost taken actions still holding a tight grip on her psyche.

"Your highness... why are you telling me this?" Celestia's magical grip vanished from her horn, and she took a few steps closer to Sunset.

"It may seem wrong for me to say..." Celestia breathed in quietly, "But I... do not wish to be alone anymore. It was hard for me, ruling without my sister all those years." Celestia's gaze softened as she spoke.

"It will not be long until Nightmare Moon... my sister, is freed from her prison. I do not have long left until I have to confront her once more, until she wishes to fight with me again." Celestia looked intently into Sunset's eyes. "I wish for you to stay my student Sunset Shimmer. And... I ask that you assist me when the time comes that Nightmare Moon is freed. I do not have the same power I did before, the Elements have been lost to me for some time."

Sunset nodded in understanding. "And... if you can't defeat her, she will have enough power to take over, wouldn't she?" Sunset croaked, unsure if it was her place to state what she did.

Celestia nodded. "Do you accept, Sunset? I will not force you to stay in the Castle if you do not wish to do so. You may return home if you like. But I do not hate you, and I wish that as your teacher, that I can guide you and protect you, the way I promised from the start." Sunset's eyes traveled down to the deep red velvet carpet the two stood on.

Averting her eyes from Celestia gave her the briefest moment to asses her options. She believed her mentor, that she did not hate her, despite all that Sunset had done, and was about to do. But she could never make up for her wrong-doings against Celestia if she left the Castle and returned home to Sires Hollow. If she stayed her student, perhaps... just maybe over time she could makeup for all that she had done, and gain Celestia's trust once more.

Finally, Sunset returned her gaze to Celestia, nodding her head as she gave her answer. "Yes, your highness. I will stay your student." Sunset gave a bow, leaning her head down far enough to point the tip of her horn to the floor. "I promise to make up for all that I have done, and earn your favor once more. I will be faithful, loyal and hard-working, your majesty."

As she rose she saw a warm smile spread across Celestia's face. "There is no need for all that, Sunset." She chuckled.

Sunset gave a sheepish smile, but shook her head. "I know, but please, let me agree to those terms your majesty. I have wronged you, even if I didn't do anything... I was planning on it. I have to make it right... at least in my mind I do." Celestia's wing gently brushed Sunsets shoulder.

"Well," Celestia spoke, "Alright then. I agree to your terms as well, Sunset Shimmer." Celestia began walking towards the large doors of the throne room. "But for now, let us both get some rest... it has been a long day. We will have much to do in the morning, but for now we both need a goodnight's sleep."

Sunset nodded in agreement, suddenly realizing how exhausted the whole ordeal had left her. There was much she needed to do, to make up for the wrong that she had almost done... Sunset wasn't entirely sure what she would do to make up for it... but she was sure that whatever was in store, she would stand by her Queen's side, no matter what.

Chapter 1

Sunset Shimmer lie anxiously awake in her bed, her hooves clinging to her blanket, pinning it to her chest. The sun had rose not ten minutes before, and yet she stayed confined to her bed, terrified of what the day before her had to offer.

She hadn't slept very well, her turbulent slumber being constantly interrupted by guilt, and thoughts of running away, away from her mistakes, away from Celestia, and disappointing her further. Her determination from the night before to right her wrongs had turned sour overnight.

Sunset still felt an overwhelming sense of wanting to do her mentor right, but the constant worry was persistent and held her in her bed, drenching her in guilt and self-punishment. She was sure she wasn't worthy of being Celestia's student any longer, and wondered why Celestia had so quickly given her a chance at redemption.

Perhaps it was a test, not of magical skill like before, but of character. If that were the case, Sunset was sure she'd fail it, and let Celestia down, all over again. She'd nearly betrayed her mentor and queen, and very few ponies would have been able to walk away from that situation without facing punishment. Sunset Shimmer wasn't confident that her status and close relationship with the queen would save her from discipline.

That thought alone continued to keep Sunset in her bed, terrified and worried, playing over any and all scenarios, over and over again. None ended in a way in which Sunset felt good about herself or her situation.

*Knock knock*

The sudden gentle tapping of hooves on wood ripped Sunset's mind from it's worrisome pit of despair, and back into reality. She paused, not certain if she'd actually heard knocking, or her mind was simply tricking her.

*Knock knock*

The noise sounded again, and finally stirred Sunset to leave her bed. She quickly trotted down the stairs of her bedroom loft and down to the rest of her dorm tower. The lower level contained a small library, and areas to study, as well as a front door that led to the rest of Canterlot castle.

"Hello, Sunset? Are you awake?"

Sunset Shimmer paused at the voice coming from the other side of the door, hesitating just in front of it, not sure if she actually wanted to open it.

"...I am now." Sunset replied, opting to keep the door shut.

"Oh, well I just stopped by to let you know that M- Celestia requests you be in the throne room in an hour." Princess Cadence's voice called back, her tone just as kind and gentle as if she were addressing one of the children she foal-sat for.

Sunset paused, processing the words she had just been told. Deciding that talking to the princess face-to-face would result in better communication, despite her resignation to talk to Cadence at all.

Sunset pulled the door open, and blinked at the sunlight it let in. "I'm sorry, what?" She asked. She'd known what she'd heard... but she wasn't sure what it meant.

"Well, that's all Mother told me." Princess Cadence replied, her expression turning from chipper to slightly confused, if only on Sunset's behalf.

"What does she want to see me for?" Sunset questioned, as if her near betrayal last night wouldn't be the reason. Perhaps Celestia had reconsidered her offer. Sunset's stomach dropped at the idea.

"I'm not sure." Cadence replied, worried that the news she'd delivered was making Sunset anxious. Evidently, it was. "But I can go ask her; I'm sure she wouldn't mind-"

"No!" Sunset interjected, her eyes becoming panicked.

"O-okay. I'm sorry if I've caused any worry." Cadence replied, sensing the immediate panic emanating from Sunset.

"Sorry- it's okay. I'm okay." Sunset had to reel herself back in; she was already letting the panic consume her. She had to be in a clearer head-space when she was to appear before Celestia.

"Do... do you need any help getting ready? I can help you; it would be no trouble." Cadence asked, concerned for Sunset's well-being. In the last few years that Sunset had been Celestia's student, Cadence had never seen such intense panic and worry from the unicorn.

"No, I'm alright. I'll be ready to see Celestia in an hour." With that, Sunset shut the door, suddenly aware of her mane being tangled and her appearance being generally un-done. She rushed back up into her loft, and to her vanity, paying attention to every last detail of her appearance. She was sure if she could clean up the outside, no one would suspect the massive mess contained within.

Just under an hour later, Sunset Shimmer stood at the throne room doors, which were still shut. She'd arrived in 58 minutes, leaving two agonizing minutes left until the doors opened. She stood as still as possible, her ears pricked forward and trying their best at making sense of the muffled voices on the other side.

Whatever Celestia had summoned her for, obviously there would be witnesses. A jury, perhaps? An angry mob? Sunset's mind could only jump to the worst of conclusions. Her promise to be there, and the two guards at the end of the hall were the only things keeping Sunset waiting at the doors.

Finally, after far too long, the doors opened, being pulled open by a unicorn's magical glow. Sunset carefully stepped forward, her hooves feeling as though they were tied to boulders. She stepped and began a slow canter.

She kept her head from turning as she carefully surveyed the scene around her. Ponies were lined along the walls of either side of the throne room, seated and watching her patiently. She noted that they were all staff of the Castle, sans the guards. Assistants, cooks, cleaners, gardeners, and all other sorts of Castle staff were around. Sunset's mind suddenly went blank, now wholly confused as to what in Equestria was going on.

At last, she reached the steps before the throne, and drew her eyes up to her mentor. Celestia sat, elegantly as ever on her throne, her lustrous mane flowing and weaving with magic no pony could handle or comprehend. Princess Cadence sat beside the queen in her own, smaller throne. The pink pegasus offered a warm, and apologetic smile to Sunset.

Sunset, for the first time since meeting the Princess, was thankful for her kind gesture. She was sure it was going to be the last one she'd receive from a member of the royal family.

"Sunset Shimmer." Celestia announced, her words sending waves across the room, silencing any small conversation happening in the gathered crowd, and making Sunset's worry amplify.

"For many years, you have served as my student and friend."

Sunset's body stiffened, which she was ironically grateful for, as it kept her legs from trembling.

"But now, it is time for you to start on a new path."

Sunset's throat went dry.

"As of today, you will no longer be my student. You have learned all that you can from me, as a student of magic."

Sunset's heart was pounding erratically.

"I now decree you, Sunset Shimmer, of Sire's Hollow, to resign from your position as my personal student."

Sunset was sure her legs were about to give out.

"And into a new position at my side."

Sunset's anxiety paused, if only for a moment. In fact, all of her symptoms seemed to pause at Celestia's statement, freezing in time. Celestia's horn lit in a magical glow, and with it, lifted a wooden box up before her, and levitating it down to Sunset Shimmer.

Sunset stopped herself from leaning away from the box and allowed her body to remain still. Celestia arose from her seat and gracefully walked down the steps of her throne, stopping a few hoof-steps from Sunset, holding the box between them.

"Sunset Shimmer." Celestia said, her words shifting from her previous confident tone, to one of gentle, motherly tone.

"I ask that you step up to the position of being my personal advisor. To take on guidance of all things magical and politically based. You are my most trusted student and friend, and I would not ask this task of anyone else in this land."

Sunset blinked at Celestia, and then drew her eyes back down to the box as it opened. Inside sat a silk necktie, ornately decorated, with Sunset's own cutie mark symbol set in a metal pin in the center of the tie.

Tears stung Sunset's eyes and blurred her vision. Quietly, she whispered to her mentor, still staring down at the tie. "...Why? I don't know if I can do this... if I SHOULD do this." Her voice cracked slightly as she spoke.

"Sunset," Celestia replied, keeping her voice quiet enough for just the two to hear. "I know you believe you are not worthy of being here, that you have done a wrong so great... that it cannot be undone."

Celestia paused for a moment, carefully choosing her next words. "But I promise you that you are still the great mind and amazing talent that I first noticed all those years ago. You are a kind person, inside Sunset Shimmer. And I wish for you to recognize that within yourself. I wish for you to remain with me in the Castle and help me to know how to lead all of the pony kind. I have ruled alone... for far too long, and one mistake will not make me change my mind on your brilliance and compassion, Sunset Shimmer."

Sunset simply listened to her mentor's words, letting them seep in and ease her mind. She lifted a hoof and wiped her tears away, giving a gentle nod. "I... accept, your highness."

Celestia smiled wide and proud, and lifted the tie out of the box. Gently, she lifted the silk band around Sunset's head and rested it gently on her neck. Celestia gestured for Sunset to turn and face the ponies seated along the walkway.

Sunset lifted her head, and looked on, trying her hardest to make her expression neutral, or at least somewhat happy. The gathered Castle staff stomped their hooves and cheered. Sunset stiffened as she felt a hoof be placed on her back.

"Oh sorry." Cadence voiced. She had come to stand by Sunset, and had lifted a hoof in an effort to comfort Sunset. She knew that the entire ordeal had stressed and terrified Sunset. "I'm very happy for you." Cadence said, her tone chipper.

"Thank you." Sunset replied, deciding she could afford to give a smile back to the pink princess. She then turned her attention from the pegasus at her left, to the alicorn at her right. Sunset looked up at Celestia, who quickly glanced from the crowd to Sunset. Celestia smiled, and Sunset found herself smiling back.

She wasn't entirely sure what this new path would look like, or if she'd even be ready for it, but there was no turning back now. She resigned herself to agreeing again with the promise she'd made to herself the night before.

Sunset would do all she could to make up for her mistake and be the best advisor to her queen that she could be. Though she wasn't entirely sure what this meant for her future or the future of anyone else... Sunset knew she couldn't run away now. She would stay, and work for, and fight for this chance at a better life.

No matter the cost.

Chapter 2

6 Months Later...

Sunset Shimmer felt her eye lids droop with exhaustion; she quickly- and discreetly- blinked them rapidly, making herself stay awake and pay attention to the task at hand. The older pony speaking at the base of Celestia's throne had been going on for some time about the confusing nature of pricing farm goods in smaller towns, compared to larger cities.

Admittedly, Sunset wasn't certain what this tangent had to do with what the farm representative had requested a meeting for, but it seemed the old stallion was keen on using his precious 15-minute council. Other elite ponies attended these meetings as well, and were generally in charge of what ponies did, or didn't get to plead their case in front of Celestia. But when it came down to it, the only opinions that really mattered where Celestia's- and as it had been for the last six months, Sunset's opinion as well.

While trying to pay attention and also keep her mind active, Sunset quietly lifted up her clipboard, stacked with the week's worth of to-dos. She glanced at what the initial statement request had been for the representative. "Better working conditions for small-town farmers, and good living wages for farms that supplied larger cities."

That seemed reasonable enough, and Canterlot funds had no reason to not help support the farming community. Sunset, despite not really paying attention to the ramblings of the older pony at this point, made a mental note to sign her own approval for this request.

Finally, the stallions' time was up, and his ramblings were cut to an abrupt end. Sunset sighed, thankful that was their last request hearing for the day. She and Celestia thanked the pony for his time, and he was escorted out of the throne room. Not long after, the other council elites also filed out of the throne room, at last leaving only Celestia and Sunset.

Sunset glanced down at the schedule, marking off one more item on the list. "Well, your highness, it looks like you'll need to be on a carriage in about 15 minutes." Sunset glanced up at Celestia, smiling as she stood from her own seat, which sat a few steps down from Celestia's throne. "I can see you out, if you'd like."

Celestia nodded, and arose from her throne. "Actually Sunset, I was hoping you could accompany me to my next event." Sunset gave a puzzled look and glanced back down at the listing, which gave only the title of her Queens next scheduled event.

"Student Entry Test Evaluations"

Sunset blinked, mulling over the words written, when it finally hit her what it meant. The school year would be starting next month after-all, and it was time Celestia began excepting new applicants. "Oh..." She said, lifting a nervous hoof and rubbing at her temple.

"Y'know I don't think that would be the best idea." Sunset replied, walking along with Celestia as the two left the throne room, and began heading towards the carriage stables.

"Why not?" Celestia asked.

"Well- I don't think I'd be of much use... I mean- you're the one who decides what students will be accepted into your school- and the judges, of course." Sunset Shimmer replied.

"I'm not asking you to attend to judge any potential students." Celestia replied, pausing as she considered her next words.

"I'm asking you to attend as my friend, and I believe that it would be beneficial to you to see what the next generation of magic wielders has to offer." Celestia concluded.

"Uh-huh." Sunset replied.

"Only if you want to attend, I won't make you go." Celestia chuckled. "Although, I suppose you'll have many more tasks on that list that could be completed without me being here." Celestia smirked and glanced at her former student.

Sunset snickered and smiled back. What the heck- why not? She thought, it'd certainly take her mind off of castle work for a few hours. Guard ponies nodded to the two mares as they walked out of the castle doors and stepped into their carriage.

Despite Sunset having officially been made Celestia's advisor for some time now, she found she was still not used to the classy treatment that came with being the Queen's second-in-command. She supposed it was that part of her that came from a small, humble town.

The sky was a vibrant blue, and a cool breeze graced Sunset's face as the carriage began its travel to Celestia's school in the heart of the city. Sunset Shimmer wasn't one for such sentimentality, but even she couldn't deny the simple, purely happy energy the blue sky and warm summer day had to offer. It was a feeling of overwhelming joy and peace that could give a pony hope for the day.

The ride was shorter than Sunset Shimmer was expecting, short enough in fact, to make her wonder why the two simply hadn't used a teleportation spell to get to the school. It had to be about presentation, she decided. Ponies were comforted by seeing their Queen arrive via carriage and be greeted in the proper fashion. Just as the carriage came to a stop just outside the school's gates, ponies had gathered like moths to a flame.

They buzzed, and talked amongst themselves, and were generally giddy to see their Queen. Sunset noticed also, the many eyes on her as she stepped down from the carriage. There were enough guards around to ensure neither mare was physically unsafe, but that didn't stop Sunset from feeling a cold shiver as she averted her eyes from the many that watched her.

That- she decided- was the worst part of being around Celestia all day. The faces that watched them. Looking on at their Queen in awe, and then in fascination, or resentment, or confusion at Sunset. She hated it, and whether it was six months- or ten years- she was sure that would never be something she'd get used to.

Sunset trotted quickly alongside Celestia, eager to be behind closed, and more importantly, restricted doors. The two walked and were directed to the testing room, where all the applicants would be tried on their magical abilities.

A wave of nostalgia washed over Sunset as she entered the test room, remembering her own examination years ago, still barely past the age of earning her cutie-mark. Someone more emotional would have shed tears at the sight, but Sunset simply gave a small "Hmm..." at the sight, and promptly took a seat beside Celestia. It was odd to her, though, being on the other side of the testing room. She remembered how imposing it was to walk into a room of adults, all perched in high-up seats, pens levitated, waiting for you to do something right- or wrong.

She hoped whatever foals were waiting on the other side of those doors had the bravery and strength needed for this test. Sunset knew all too well the devastating blow that failure could leave, and for ones so young, it was more terrifying than anything.

Far away from Canterlot, spanning across Equestria and nestled into a sea-side chunk of land sat Manehatten- a bustling, crowded city. Sat within that crowded city was a small, but homely house, crammed in-between many other houses of the same design. Compact living, with enough room for ponies to live comfortably.

Within this compact home lived the Orange family and a visiting family member. Early summer mornings for the Oranges were usually spent talking at the kitchen table while enjoying orange-themed breakfasts and treats. As Aunt Orange set down her plate on this fine summer morning, she noticed the lack of her nieces' presence, and promptly walked to the door of their guest room.

Aunt Orange carefully, and politely raised a hoof and knocked on the door. "Applejack dear, breakfast is ready." She said her tone was sweet and slightly worried. "I tried to get some apple juice for you- but the market was all out." She heard a slight shuffling from the other side of the door, and finally, a reply surfaced.

"... I'm alright Auntie Orange... I jus' don't feel like eatin' this mornin'. Y'all go on ahead."

Aunt Orange paused at this, then gave a small sigh, unsure if she could say anything to help. "Alright, just be safe." Was all she could muster. If Applejack didn't want to eat, that was fine. But being in her home meant that Aunt Orange was responsible for her well-being. Although she was sure that adjusting to city life wasn't the only difficult thing that the young foal was facing right now.

She just wasn't sure what she could do to help.

Closer than Manehatten, though still far off from the shimmering city of Canterlot- hidden in a dark, dim and dusty valley sat the Pie Family Rock Farm. Clouds hung heavy in the sky above the farm, and the three young foals nosed rocks along the field, their minds numb with boredom.

In particular, the pale-coated Pinkamina Diane Pie was intensely bored. Being raised to push rocks along a field, it didn't take long for her body to fall in rhythm with her work, leaving her mind with nothing to do- but be bored. The dark clouds in the sky above would seem to tease on-coming rain. But, as Pinkamina had seen, growing up on this land, rain rarely came. Rather, the clouds were there for... aesthetic purpose, only adding further grey-ness to the already bleak scenery.

Pinkamina gave a final, tiny shove to the rock she'd been moving, using her hoof to adjust it to the pile she'd added it to. She stood for a moment, looking down at the rock, and then surveying the other, same-colored rocks. She huffed, knowing the next morning there'd be more rocks to shove.

And the day after that, more rocks to shove. And the day after- the day after that, there'd be more rocks. And the day after- the day after-after that there'd be-

The closest town to Canterlot sat at the base of the mountain, the small and homely town of Ponyville. Being such a small but comforting town, it was common for many activities, clubs, plays, etc. to be found happening in the town year-round. One such activity involved the foals of the up-coming school year being involved in putting on a play for their parents and future classmates.

Roles were given to each foal to help the production run smoothly. And one such filly begged for, and was given the part of costume designer. She took her job incredibly seriously, and took special care to ensure the performers looked amazing, as well as the costumes be functional. Despite her love of the craft however, she couldn't help but feel that something was off about the costumes.

"Nice" Her teacher had said. "Nice" wasn't good enough, and certainly not what Rarity was looking for.

This predicament was where the young foal was stuck now, sewing in more details onto the already finished pieces. But the extra embroidery and stitching could only do so much, and she felt more and more frustrated as she kept working.

She huffed, and tossed the orange flower head-piece back onto the table. It certainly looked better- but not what she wanted it to look like. The small unicorn looked about her make-shift sewing room, unsure of what to do.

Her mind was thrown off it's train of thought as she felt a spark of magic alight her horn. She looked up, only catching the tiniest glimpse of magic sparks. "What?" She asked, suddenly feeling her body being tugged and pulled off of her seat.

"Wait!" She yelped, her horn dragging her off her seat, and zooming out of the room. The magic carrying her paused for a moment in the hallway, before abruptly rushing her off again, this time to the door at the end of the hallway.

"Aaah!" Rarity yelped as she flew to the door- the still CLOSED door. She pulled her hooves up and braced for impact- but the door suddenly opened, and allowed her to be carried into the room. The magic dropped her on a clear spot on an old rug, and the sparks from her horn suddenly quit.

"Oh- What?!" Rarity yelled, confused, and frankly a little annoyed at the random burst of magic. She looked around the room, and became increasingly frustrated at the sight before her. It was just a storage room- corners filled with old, musty boxes. And miscellaneous pieces of furniture and large, bulky items scattered about.

"Thanks a lot HORN!" She screamed. Rarity stood up, and promptly walked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her. She was more than ready to forget that odd experience. She had to finish those costumes, and fast. The performance was that night!

Within the heart of Canterlot, sat Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, and inside those doors were fillies and colts, gathered and anxious to take their entrance exams and be accepted into Celestia's school.

Twilight Velvet and Night Light sat with their youngest child, and only daughter, as they waited for her turn.

Twilight Sparkle had been anticipating this day for weeks, preparing, reading and practicing everyday. She could hardly keep her mind on anything else. Velvet and Night Light made a point to help Twilight remember she would still be a gifted, wonderful pony, regardless of whether she succeeded or failed.

Their words though, didn't seem to hold much weight as they watched foal after foal enter the doors of the testing room. Very few of the unicorn foals that entered left with high spirits, which left Velvet and Night Light nervous for their daughter.

Twilight hadn't seemed to notice this however, as she kept going on about all the things she'd been practicing and what she'd read. She was interrupted by a voice calling her from across the room.

"Twilight Sparkle."

The fillies head shot up, and towards the voice- a mare that had been ushering in the fillies and colts before her. Velvet nodded to her daughter, and gestured towards the doors. Twilight nodded back, suddenly feeling nervous.

Twilight arose from her spot on the floor, and carefully walked towards the imposingly large closed doors. The mare who'd called her name opened them, and allowed Twilight and her parents to enter.

The foal shuddered as she took in her surroundings, and felt her throat go dry at seeing Celestia herself perched above the judges. The orange unicorn sat beside the Queen looked just as intimidating to Twilight. She gulped and stood frozen in the middle of the floor.

Her parents had moved to the far side of the room, and she looked to them for comfort. They gestured for her to smile, and Twilight did so, nervously. The doors she'd just entered from burst open again, and from it a stallion pushed in a cart, topped with a large spotted egg.

"Alright Ms. Sparkle," A judge said from the above seats. "You may begin."

Miles above the town of Ponyville, and it's surrounding forest, sat the majestic and fluffy city of Cloudsdale. The city's summer flight camp for foals was in full swing, and with only a month left before school began, the populous of Cloudsdale was enjoying every last bit of summer they could.

In particular, the summer flight camp was a favorite of pegasus children. It was great- if you had lots of friends, and enjoyed sports, and were good at flying. None of which, unfortunately, applied to Fluttershy. But it was custom to attend flight camp, regardless of skill, so Fluttershy had joined- a year late, but still joined.

Fluttershy hadn't enjoyed very much of camp the two and a-half month's she'd been there- but today was particularly terrible. She'd managed to stumble and tumble her way through the course, and sat disheartened on the cloudy ground, tangled in an orange flag.

"Nice going- Clutzershy!" Fluttershy winced at the voice of two colts who'd been persistent in tormenting most of her time at camp. She couldn't tolerate their bullying on the best of days- and today for sure would be a terrible time to deal with them. She quickly kicked her legs in an attempt to free herself from the flag's grip. Her movements only tangled her more in the fabric. She whimpered as she heard the colts come closer, along with their taunting remarks.

"Hey!" A new voice emerged, and Fluttershy looked up to see a smaller blue filly soar down from a higher cloud, and land in front of her. Her mane striped in a variety of vibrant colors.

"Leave her alone!" Rainbow Dash squeaked, her tiny wings flaring as she stood up to the two larger colts.

"You think you're any better than her? Prove it!" The other colt taunted.

Rainbow smirked and quipped back, "What did ya have in mind?"

Before Fluttershy knew what was happening, she was holding a signal flag in her mouth, and was perched on a single small cloud, facing Rainbow Dash and her bullies. Rainbow had challenged them to a race in her honor. And although Fluttershy was incredibly thankful for the intervention, she couldn't help but wonder why she'd been chosen to send off the race.

She didn't protest though, and as the foals around her counted down, she readied herself to lower the flag.

"Five,"

"Four,"

"Three,"

"Two..."

"ONE!"

Fluttershy swung the flag down, and the pegasus foals bolted- right at her. She yelped, dropping the flag. As the incredibly fast ponies sped past her, Fluttershy felt her balance on the cloud tremble, and her body began to fall.

She screamed as she fell, the rush of wind against her bag making her legs tremble and shake. She saw the cloud arena rapidly grow smaller and she was sure she was done for!

And then she felt herself fall onto something soft and small. Her scream was cut abruptly as she landed, and she quickly looked down. She was grateful for being saved... but confused as to what she was looking at. The flying creatures that saved her were beautiful, but very unfamiliar.

The pegasus whipped her head around and grew increasingly confused, but excited at her surroundings. She was hovering just above the ground. And was face-to-face with things she'd only heard of. The pretty flying creatures gently let her onto the strangely prickly "grass" and she felt her legs tremble slightly as she wobbled onto the ground.

She stood for a moment longer taking in the beautiful greenery around her. So many creatures, so strange and foreign to her, but so alluring. The plants, the trees and flowers- it was all so lovely, so amazing!

It made her want to sing!

Miles above, Rainbow Dash hadn't noticed the falling of her friend. She had a race to win, and she wasn't going to let what those foals had done go. She'd agreed to a race for Fluttershy's honor, and now that she was racing against those two colts- her honor was on the line too. She knew they'd never let it go if she lost to them- and she sure wasn't gonna let that happen!

The speed, wind in her mane- it was all so exhilarating! She felt as though she could fly like this forever. Far off, into the deep blue sky, soaring over everyone and everything... she couldn't imagine anything better than that.

Her enjoyment of flight was diminished, however, as the larger of the two colts shoved into her, almost knocking her off the course. "Hey!" She responded. Rainbow quickly snapped her attention back to the course. A sharp turn was up ahead, and she knew what to do.

Rainbow Dash quickly made a sharp turn as she continued down the course. Her opponent yelped as he turned slower, and promptly flew directly into a cloud border. One down, one to go.

The other, smaller colt was still ahead of Rainbow. The filly strained her wings, beating them faster and faster, sure she could catch up to her opponent. And she was gaining on him- something he didn't like. The colt's eyes darted around as he looked for a way to slow her down- not caring about catching the heat for cheating. He needed to win.

Just up ahead, hidden behind other, paler clouds was a small dark rain cloud. He was sure it would work, he just had to time it right. He began flapping his wings slower, letting Rainbow catch up to him, but staying just barely behind him.

As his body began passing the cloud, he turned, and kicked his back hooves into the storm cloud. He then sped up, moving out of the way just fast enough to avoid the trouble he just caused. Rainbow, though, wasn't quick enough to react, and screamed as she saw streaks of lightning spark and burst from the small cloud.

One spark struck the back of her neck, singing her mane and fur. "AAH!" She yelped, her focus on flying torn from her, she was sent barreling into a cloud wall beside her. She quickly sat up, and raised a hoof to the spot where the lightning struck. She sucked in air through her teeth. The skin was stinging and tender, and she winced as her hoof touched the area.

Her attention was quickly pulled from her injury as she saw more sparks and lightning emerge from the cloud, which was growing bigger and bigger. Rainbow quickly stood and began flapping her wings again, dashing away from the cloud. As she finished the course, and saw the colt- her new enemy- being praised by the other foals. She felt her blood boil and her vision turn red.

"Hey! You JERK!" She screamed, not slowing her flying speed as she neared the colt. Rainbow tackled the foal, nocking him and her into the cloudy ground. Before she could start laying hits on him, she felt herself being ripped away by a councilor.

"STOP!" The older pegasus scolded her, effortlessly lifting her away. "I outta call your parents about this! I-"

"STORM CLOUD!" Another pegasus yelped, pointing a trembling hoof at the now out-of-control, and massive storm cloud that was bubbling its way towards the foals and councilors.

The councilor that held Rainbow Dash promptly forgot the situation at hand, and began calling out to all the ponies around who could hear. "Everyone evacuate, head into the city!"

All around Rainbow Dash ponies began rushing away from the growing storm and towards Cloudsdale. The councilor that had torn her away from her justice set her down and began shoving her towards the direction of the others.

"Go- quickly!"

As Rainbow began trotting away with the other ponies, she stole a glance behind her, at the chaos left behind. The dark cloud was overtaking the race course, and spreading out across the sky. It thundered and sparked lightning, and made Rainbow shiver as she stared at it.

For the briefest moment, she wondered what that storm would mean for the ponies down on the ground.

She could only wonder.

Chapter 3

Twilight Sparkle had been struggling for the last few minutes, straining her horn and emitting what little magic she was capable of. But even that and the immense head-ache beginning to form at the front of her skull, wasn't enough to even crack at the dragon egg.

Nothing was working, and she was starting to think her training, reading and practicing- it had all been a lost cause. Sweat was rolling off of her, and she became worried the judges could see the beads covering her, despite how far across the room they sat from her.

She gave one final, desperate burst of magic. Her horn gave off a tiny and pathetic sprinkle of sparks, and quickly died out. And as it had been those excruciating five minutes, the dragon egg sat still in its hay nest. Untouched and unbothered.

Twilight stared at the egg and gave a whimper, her eyes filling with tears. She blinked them away as she turned to face the judges, her tiny legs trembling as she did so. She took only a glance at the judges, only glimpsing the manic way in which they were jotting down their notes.

Twilight lowered her head as she spoke. "I'm sorry for wasting your time." Her lip quivered, but she fought back tears. The last thing she wanted was to add further insult, to the injury of failing her exam. She didn't even dare to think what Queen Celestia might think! Why did she even think she could do this?

"You may leave Ms. Sparkle. We will have your results sent to your parents in a week's time."

What results were there to send? She'd clearly failed in the most spectacular way possible- did they just want to spell out how truly terribly she'd done.

That thought, almost sent Twilight over the edge, and she was grateful for her parents as they quickly rushed her forward and out of the test room. Her mother held her close as they walked out, and Twilight nestled close, burying her face in her mother's shoulder. She was sure she'd be crying into her arms the whole way home.

Sunset frowned as she watched the small purple unicorn be ushered out by her parents. She'd been bothered by all the foals who hadn't been able to complete their own tests- but the sorrowful nature of this foal particularly spoke to Sunset.

But, there were more foals after this one, and Sunset quickly changed her expression to a more neutral look. She stole a glance at Celestia, who looked calm, even serene. Sunset wished she could master the cool and calm look Celestia always seemed to exude. It was hard for Sunset to not let things bother her, like that dis-heartened foal.

As the test room was being prepped for the next foal, Sunset focused her gaze on the window across the room. The large arches allowed a view of the tops of Canterlot's buildings, and beyond them, the bright blue sky. Her eyes followed clouds as they slowly drifted by.

She felt comforted by the simple scenery, soaking in the deep blues, and fluffy whites. It was a nice, calm day.

The skies were just as blue and promising across Equestria in Manehatten, though their beauty did little to comfort one down-trodden filly. Applejack rested her head on her hooves and looked out at the rolling green of the country. She could see it, and it felt so close, but she knew she was confined inside the massive city, hidden away by stone walls and concrete roads.

Her thoughts turned to her family back home... or what was left of it. She wished to be back under those glorious trees, basking in their cool shade. Biting into those sweet, quenching apples. The smell of the wood, and her home. Her own bed, family pictures, food, laughter... her memories.

Applejack blinked, feeling tears roll down her cheeks and land on her hooves. She sniffed and looked out at the fields again, the comforting greens now seeming cold and distant.

After all, everything she held dear about home... It was all just a memory, now, wasn't it? It wouldn't be the same if she went back now.

Applejack wiped the tears from her eyes, sniffling all the while. She remembered her aunt calling her for breakfast, and decided to join her aunt and uncle. Maybe... just maybe being around them would make her feel better. Or, at the very least, she could get advice on what to do.

She arose from her seat at the window, and tentatively, pulled the window shut and drew the curtains. She couldn't stand to look out at the country any longer. The memories were too painful and too fresh.

Quietly, she sauntered out of her room, down the hall and into the kitchen. She took a seat at the table, and looked up at her aunt and uncle. They were very different from her family back home. But they were still her family, and they had offered for her to stay with them when she didn't know what she could do with herself.

The most Applejack could do, as she saw, was return that hospitality they'd shown her. And try, really try, to make the most out of being here. Even if that meant putting farm life behind her.

"Rainbow Dash! Sweetie- there you are!"

Rainbow startled at the sound of her parents' concerned voices. Her jolt also startled the camp counselor who was placing an aloe smeared patch on her burn mark. The counselor grumbled, but finished placing the patch, and promptly began working on other nearby foals who'd been bruised-up in the scuffle to get off of the campgrounds. In the chaos, the camp goers and workers had been corralled into the nearby staff buildings, cramped and crowded.

Rainbow Dash grimaced as her parents raced towards her, and gritted her teeth even more as they scooped her up into an embarrassingly exaggerated bear hug. She let them hug her for a moment, but quickly pushed them away the moment she heard other foals giggling at the sight.

"I'm fine." She groaned, falling back onto the bench she had been sitting on.

"Well-" Windy began, taking a moment to look at the crowded room, and then back at her daughter. "I'm sure you are- you were always such a tough girl!" Her mother praised, giving the most award-winning smile she could muster.

Her father continued Windy's statement. "But, well it's just- a storm cloud breaking loose and throwing lightning around willy-nilly... Well it just makes ponies worried is all." Bow concluded, also giving an earnest grin to their daughter.

Windy glanced at her husband and sighed. This alerted Rainbow, and she quickly noticed their changing expressions.

"And that danger dear..." Windy said, her eyes turning concerned as she spotted the patch on her daughter's back. "Well it's just..."

"We're here to take you home, Rainbow." Bow commented, his expression just as concerned as Windy's.

"...Oookay?" Rainbow squeaked. She knew that this fiasco would shut down camp for the day- or at least until the rain cloud was under control. But did her folks really have to take her home?

"We're taking you home... for the rest of camp, sweet heart." Windy stated, her expression pleading as she looked at her daughter.

Rainbow sat upright at this, her tiny wings flaring as she protested. "NO!" Rainbow's eyes darted around as she looked at the other ponies around her, their eyes on her now.

That wasn't enough to stop her fighting back. "No! I don't wanna leave- there's still like two more weeks!" Rainbow's eyes pricked with tears, but her frustration overtook her vision.

"It was just a dumb little lightning bolt- I'll be fine!" She was standing up now on the stool, her eyes just below the level of her parents.

Bow and Windy looked around the room, shameful at the way their daughter was acting, though they knew that would be her reaction. Windy nodded to her husband, and without a word Bow scooped up the tiny, still angry foal.

Rainbow protested and shoved against her father's arms, but it wasn't even close to loosening his grip. They began making their way out of the faculty building, and out towards the inner city of Cloudsdale.

Rainbow Dash protested and screamed, cried and pleaded. But nothing was going to change her parent's minds.

They arrived at home shortly after, and as soon as Rainbow was set down on the floor, she bolted to her room and slammed the door shut. She stood in the middle of her room, fuming.

She couldn't fathom how her parents were doing this to her! She didn't get hurt- not really. Not enough to be pulled from flight camp for the rest of summer! Her mother had assured her that there was always next year, but that was too far off in time for Rainbow to even consider.

Eventually, her anger turned to despair, which gave way to tears and the tiny foal threw herself onto her cloud bed. The brightly colored pillow sheets being stained a darker shade with her tears. Rainbow let herself cry for a good while, and still harbored resentment for how that day had gone down.

But she didn't want to stay mad at her parents forever. And though her stubbornness still blinded her as to why her parents pulled her from flight camp, at the very least she understood it was because they cared about her.

After she'd calmed down enough to talk, her eyes strained from the tears, she quietly opened the door of her room and peered down the stairs. Her father was nowhere in sight, but her mother was at the front door. She stood in the doorway, talking and reassuring a pale yellow mare with a bright red mane, done up in smooth curls.

Rainbow didn't recognize the mare her mother was talking to, but her curiosity took over. She carefully crept down the stairs and ran behind one of the sofas in their living room. She sat waiting and tuned into the conversation.

"I don't know, I haven't heard anything." Windy was saying. "But I promise we'll keep an eye out- and we'll let you know if we see anything."

Rainbow couldn't make out the words of the other mare, her voice was faint, and she seemed to be in a worried state.

"Yes- I'm sure she's alright. Don't worry, I'm sure they will do everything to find her, we will too." Windy said again.

Rainbow peered around the corner of the couch in time to see her mother waving the mare off. Her mother watched as the yellow pegasus flew off. Rainbow wished she could see her mother's expression. Windy was still standing in the doorway, long after the other mare had flown out of sight.

She seemed to be frozen, and Rainbow thought about approaching her mother. Finally, Windy snapped out of her state, and she shut the door, and turned around.

Rainbow quickly stood up and slowly stepped out from behind the sofa. "...Mom?" Rainbow asked, confused and a little alarmed by her mother's mood.

Windy's attention snapped to her daughter, and she quickly rushed over and scooped her foal up into her arms. The two sat for a moment like that. Rainbow reluctantly hugged her mother back, though was still thoroughly confused by her behavior.

After a moment, Windy let go and set her daughter back down. "I'm sorry." Her mother said, as she brushed a hoof over her daughter's bright, messy mane. "I just... I just worry is all."

Rainbow was still confused by her mother's behavior, but was determined to ask one, final question.

"Uh... yeah. Who was that lady, at the door?" Rainbow asked, brushing her mane back into its messy state.

Windy's smile faded and she looked back at the front door. "She was just a worried mother looking for her foal. I'm sure she'll turn up soon."

"Did she run away?" Rainbow asked. Familiar with the idea, as that had been one of the many raged-filled thoughts that had crossed her mind not twenty minutes ago.

"Not exactly... she's just missing right now. But everyone at camp who isn't dealing with the storm is searching for her. I'm sure they'll find her." Windy replied, giving Rainbow another small hug.

"... Oh." Rainbow replied. She quickly let go of her mother's grasp and looked up at her. "Can I help look for her?" She asked, hopeful at the prospect.

That hope was immediately dashed when she saw her mother's expression change from happiness to concern.

"No sweetie, I don't think that would be a good idea. It isn't safe for fillies to go out searching for other fillies, especially not with that storm out." Windy patted her daughter's head and made her way over to the nearby sofa.

Rainbow felt a sense of urgency at this missing foal. But if her mother was so calm about it... surely there wasn't anything to worry about, right? Rainbow fluttered over to the sofa and sat beside her mother.

"So... she'll be okay right? That missing foal?" She asked, hesitant about the whole situation. Windy looked at her daughter and gave a soft smile. She rustled her colorful mane as she replied.

"I'm sure of it dear. After all, she couldn't have gone very far."

Below the weather-protected city of Cloudsdale, Ponyville was beginning to hear the rumbling crash of thunder, making its way towards the small town. No harsh weather had been planned for that day, so the roar of thunder was of surprise to the residents.

Which included the wildlife that surrounded the small town. Fluttershy yelped as she heard a particularly loud crash of thunder, not too far away from the peaceful meadow she'd found herself in. She looked around and soon caught sight of a massive dark cloud making its way over the town and surrounding woods.

Fluttershy realized how long it had been since the race had begun, and with the on-coming weather, it wouldn't be long before she couldn't fly back up to camp. She took a final glance at all the adorable furry creatures she'd met, and faintly waved goodbye to them.

"I'm sorry little friends, I have to go." With that she began flapping her wings, shakily taking off from the soft forest floor. The clouds were getting closer, along with the thundering noise. Fluttershy whimpered as she slowly ascended into the sky. She wasn't going as fast as she would like, and the clouds were moving faster than she could keep up with.

A sudden crack of lightning sent Fluttershy reeling. The bolt had been too close to her, far too close. It terrified her, and she felt her wings spinning out of her control. Before she could change her flying stance, she felt herself falling again. This time she landed in the leaves of a nearby tree.

The branches scraped against her and she yelped as she fell through the foliage. She slid down onto a more solid branch and her legs shook uncontrollably from the fear. The weather was far too wild now, and she knew she wouldn't be able to fly through it, or else risk being struck by lightning.

Rain began showering down, finding its way through the gaps of leaves and directly onto Fluttershy's head. She whimpered and looked around, desperate for any kind of shelter. She saw, just under the shade of the tree, a small group of fluffy creatures go running by. Their large back legs carried them swiftly through the grass, and into more sheltered parts of the forest.

Not knowing what else to do, Fluttershy clambered down from the tree branches and back onto the forest floor. She followed the small fluffy creatures as they bounded deeper into the woods. Their large fluffy ears were pulled back as they ran, and instinctively, Fluttershy did the same.

These small animals were fast, and at times it was difficult for Fluttershy to keep up with them. But, eventually they stopped and took notice of the gangly foal who'd followed them into the heart of the forest. The leaves were so thick this deep in, that very little rain was able to touch the forest floor.

The small creatures' noses twitched and flickered as they inspected the pony that stood before them. Fluttershy stood still, letting them observe her. She wasn't sure if they could understand her, but she thought it polite to at least explain why she'd followed them this far.

"I'm sorry to bother you..." she began, noticing other forest creatures were coming closer to where she stood. "It's just that I needed somewhere to go. I can't fly back home in the rain... it's much too dangerous for me."

Other small fluffy animals were twitching their noses as they approached Fluttershy. They seemed curious, but weary of her. She understood their hesitation.

"And I'm so sorry for bothering you, but I saw you were going somewhere safe... so well I just thought... it might be best to follow you."

Slowly, Fluttershy lowered herself to sit on the grass, keeping in mind to make her movements calm and un-threatening. "So, I hope you won't mind if I wait for the storm to be over here with you. I really will go once it's all over... but it's just too dangerous for me right now."

If the creatures that were around her understood her words, they showed no sign of it. They simply skittered closer and closer, their tiny pink noses drawing in her scent, and deciding whether or not she'd be a threat.

Ultimately, it seemed, they decided this foal wouldn't harm them. Some creatures simply ran off back into the brush, while others stayed and sat closely beside the pony. Watching her intently. Fluttershy watched them closely in turn, taking in the features and characteristics of the creatures that surrounded her.

They were very different from the few animal's she'd seen growing up in Cloudsdale. Many of them seemed to live underground, or be good at digging. She desperately wanted to know more about them, what they were and what they did.

But for now, she was content to wait with these strange, beautiful creatures. And hope that this sudden storm would end as quickly as it began.

Chapter 4

Despite the disappointing turnout of the costumes, Rarity had set off towards the school, determined to deliver them. Never mind the fact they weren't as special as she wanted them to be, they needed to arrive at the school before the play.

Rarity was already most of the way to the school when she heard the first ominous roar of thunder. She jumped and felt her skin crawl. The thunder had been so loud, it almost felt like it had rumbled directly in her ear. She shot a worried look up at the sky, and was terrified at the sight of a massive, dark cloud covering the previously blue sky.

Her slow canter quickly turned into a hastened trot. Her magic sparked and fought against her as she carried her box stuffed with the mediocre costumes. As much of a disappointment as they were to her, the last thing she wanted was for them to be ruined in the rain. She was also terrified at the prospect of her mane being ruined.

Thunder continued to roll across the darkening sky, rumbling the nearby buildings as Rarity ran by. The school was now in sight, just a few more city streets, and over a small bridge. And then, the downpour began.

A light drizzle quickly turned into a sharp shower of icy cold water. Rarity yelped as she continued to run, her coat and mane being coated and soaked. She tried to keep it out of her mind how the costumes in the box were fairing. She hoped the cardboard lid would be enough to keep them dry.

The soft dirt beneath her hooves quickly turned to slippery mud. Rarity let out a small scream as she slipped and fell to the ground. Mud splashed in every direction, and she was tempted to just lie there and cry out her feelings. The day had already been stressful, but the sudden and harsh rain was close to sending her over the emotional edge.

Despite this messy set-back, Rarity stood again and began a more careful run towards the school. Her hooves rang an echo over the bridge as she ran, and she hoped that she was still on time. The thought hadn't crossed her that this rain would set back the play. At the moment, the only thing keeping Rarity going was the determination to deliver the costumes on time.

The last stretch of the path from the bridge to the school finally came to a close, and dramatically, Rarity slammed open the back door of the school's outdoor theater. The fillies and colts inside jumped at the noise, and their attention was immediately drawn to the small unicorn at the door.

Rarity slowed her walk and dragged in the box full of costumes. "I'm here! I'm here!" She called out, using a muddy hoof to swipe a wet strand of hair out of her vision. She knew she looked a mess, and she would cry about it soon. But for now, she didn't want to let down her teacher and fellow peers.

Rarity's teacher dropped the mop she'd been using to clean up excess water, and rushed over to her student. "Oh... dear hold on, let's get you cleaned up." She fretted, looking around for a spare cloth or towel. The small unicorn that stood before her was soaked in icy rain water and stained with mud.

"No- wait, I brought the costumes!" Rarity stammered, pushing the box forward and towards the teacher. Her teacher flinched at the sudden movement, but carefully peeled open the lid of the box. She smiled kindly at first, as she began pulling out the costumes, marveling silently at her student's resolve to deliver the costumes, despite the terrible storm outside.

She made a mental note to bring up this courageous (and dangerous) feat to Rarity's parents.

"That was very... kind of you dear." Her teacher commented. She shuddered as she lifted the costume lying on the top of the pile. The soaked fabric was cold to the touch. "Although... I'm afraid with the weather..." She trailed off, glancing back at her other gathered students. They'd already been informed of the terrible news, and were waiting for their own parents to arrive.

She turned back to Rarity, who stood at attention, waiting desperately for her teacher to say something- anything. "You see, because of this sudden storm..." Her teacher was hesitating on her words. She knew what had to be said, but if she saw another heart-broken filly's reaction, she just wasn't sure she could handle it. Then again, she was a professional, and had to have more resolve than this.

Her teacher sighed, and she set down the costume she'd been holding. Mindlessly, she wiped her hoof against the other as she spoke. "I'm afraid, Rarity, that the play has been canceled. We simply can't perform in this storm, and we don't know how long it will last for."

"Perhaps we can squeeze it in for next week... or maybe the week after, before classes begin. But well, the others are waiting for their parents to pick them up... Perhaps you should do the same. I can wait with you until they arrive." Her teacher kept a kind, and well-meaning tone of voice. And, despite her own disappointment at the sudden turn of events, it was her duty to ensure her students both knew the truth, and were strong enough to deal with it.

Rarity's small ears pricked and folded against her head. She felt her stomach plummet. And finally, after the most stressful, desperate, horrible, messy day she had EVER dealt with in her (admittedly short) life- she finally snapped.

First, her lip quivered and trembled. Then her large, blue eyes filled and began pouring out comically large tears. And finally, she gave into despair. She threw herself onto the floor and wailed, loud enough to echo and rattle the walls of the tiny backstage area. She buried her head in her hooves and cried, not caring for the scene she was making in front of her peers and teacher.

"Oh my..." Her teacher sighed. No amount of kindly dressed words or professional language could have saved this foal's day from being ruined. And no amount of professional training could have prepared her for this foal's reaction, or current state. Carefully, she moved the box out of the way and walked over to her other students, who were clearly disturbed by the scene laid out before them.

Quietly, the teacher stepped around Rarity and walked to the other end of the room, picking the mop back up. Rarity continued to cry and wail, her pent-up grievances over the terrible day she'd had finally being let out. She was oblivious to the rest of the room and world at that moment. She could only focus on the terrible heartache she'd been forced into.

Truly, this was the worst day in her ENTIRE life!

Though not the worst day in her life, today seemed just as lifeless and dull as all the rest that work common work days for Pinkamina. The sky was still its usual dark grey, though no rain poured from the heavy clouds. They simply sat still, covering all underneath in a boring, sad shade of grey.

Pinkamina rolled the last, small pebble into her work pile, and solemnly followed her family into their farmhouse for dinner. Which would also contain rocks of some variety. Pinkamina stood in line has her family slowly made their way inside. Their movements as bored as Pinkamina felt.

The tiny pink pony gave a final look at the sky. She didn't know why she was so fixated on the sky today. It was always this lifeless and dull. Today hadn't been any different.

And yet, somewhere down deep inside, she felt compelled to look up at it. The tiniest spark of hope lit up for a moment in her heart. And then, that feeling was gone, just as quickly as it had come. She turned her head away, losing all interest in looking up at the clouds.

She stepped into her family home, and took her seat at the table. She knew how the next few hours would play out, the way they always did. They would eat, her father would recite the family traditions and rules before bed. She would fall into a dark and dreamless sleep. She would wake, and work would begin all over again. The same things, over and over... and over.

Despite the repetitive nature of her life... Pinkamina wished, just a small wish- but she wished to feel hope again... even for a fleeting moment.

As Sunset and Celestia stepped off the carriage and onto the smooth pavement of the Castle grounds, Sunset let out an involuntary yawn. She quickly shook her head and kept walking. Today had been more exhausting than she was willing to let on, though her body was making the reactions for her.

Sunset slowed her walking pace as she felt Celestia close beside her. Evening was almost here, and Sunset still had a few final tasks to do before she could settle down for the night. She nodded to an attendant who handed Sunset her task list. Just a few items left... She noted as she gazed down at the sheet.

Celestia had been right earlier, they were simple enough tasks to do that didn't require her Queen to be present. Though they had been at the entrance exams longer than Sunset liked. As she walked Sunset heard Celestia humming quietly.

To any other pony they would simply take that to mean nothing of interest, or that their Queen simply liked to hum to herself. But, for ones close enough to Celestia, they knew it meant she had something particular on her mind.

Sunset looked up from her task list, raising a curious brow as she addressed Celestia. "Is there something on your mind?" She asked, not caring to dance around the subject.

Celestia drew her gaze to Sunset and smiled. "Nothing important." She replied, and began walking past her student. "I was just wondering if you'd like to have some tea before you finish your work for the day. We were out for a while, I should think some tea and snacks would be nice." Celestia continued.

Sunset began walking again, notably at a distance from Celestia. "I'd like to," Sunset replied, drawing her attention back to her sheet. "But I'll have to decline for tonight. I'm pretty tired from being out... those exams took longer than I thought."

Sunset began making her way down a separate hallway, calling out to Celestia as she walked away. "Thanks though. I'll see you tomorrow!" Sunset rounded a corner and disappeared out of Celestia's sight.

Celestia stood alone in the royal kitchen. The staff had already left for the night, and now was the time that Celestia enjoyed being in the kitchen most. She was ever grateful for her staff, but they would fuss over her being in the kitchen, insisting that they prepare any and everything for her.

Celestia quite enjoyed cooking- in any form it took. And, she enjoyed making things for herself, when she could find the time. Now, she stood over the stove, a teapot boiling and bubbling as the essence of the tea soaked into the water, and colored it a pale yellow pigment. Celestia enjoyed every process of making tea, watching with fascination how each step progressed, and ended in a final, soothing drink.

Technically, one of her magical prowess could easily make tea appear whenever she wanted. She could heat the water up instantly faster than a stove, and make the tea any flavor she could come up with.

But Celestia hardly gave those ideas much thought. Magic was vastly important to her world and very existence... but it wasn't everything. Celestia, though being the sole ruler of Equestria, found solace in being able to cook herself a simple meal or brewing tea, while using minimal amounts of magic. She had been alive a long, long time. And more than ever... well since Luna was gone... she felt the ability to take care of herself, to cook for herself, brought her the tiniest amount of control to her own life.

Rules and schedules, meetings and proceedings dictated most of her waking hours. And when she was asleep... All her mind could do was remind her of days gone by. Lives she'd known, and that were long since passed. Now, and only now, could she find peace in these quiet moments. And she found she was clinging onto the few real connections she'd been able to make.

Maybe she was selfish for keeping Sunset within the Castle's walls. Maybe she wasn't the right mare to have raised Cadence. Maybe she wasn't the right one to lead all of Equestria.

...But, regardless, she was in the thick of it now. She'd made her decisions. She'd chosen to raise the sun all those many, many lifetimes ago.

She'd chosen to rule alongside her sister, and guide pony kind in its earliest of days.

She'd chosen to ignore her sister... and she had also chosen to banish her when it was far too late.

She'd chosen to keep that lost foal... and she'd chosen to raise Cadence as her daughter... if only to have someone around to disturb the constant loneliness she had felt.

She'd chosen to take on students of magical promise... and she'd chosen Sunset Shimmer.

She'd chosen to keep Sunset here, and give her a position forever at her side...

And now... what else would she have to choose?

Celestia poured the tea, and stirred in spoonful's of sugar. She walked with her cup and took a seat beside the window. She didn't care to go out to her balcony. Whether there or not, she would begin to lower the sun. Her horn lit in a golden glow, and she gently, slowly, began lowering that bright ball of light down past the horizon.

She mindlessly sipped at her tea, her thoughts still tangled in guilt and worry. Truly, she didn't know what she could do next. She had asked Sunset to be at her side, and for what?

The excuse that her sister- Nightmare Moon would someday return? Celestia knew that day was fast approaching... and she couldn't make her student, her closest ally deal with her mistakes.

And yet, despite that guilt... Celestia didn't know what she could do. She had lost touch with the Elements the moment she had banished her sister. She was lonely and clueless. No better than a foal lost without their mother.

As the last of the sunlight vanished over the horizon, Celestia's magic turned to a light blue as she began raising the moon. The pale glow emanating from it made Celestia feel all the more guilty.

She felt the last of her resolve dissipate as she stared at the crater formation on the face of the moon. The silhouette stared back at her, taunting Celestia with its stillness.

Her magic released and Celestia turned away from the window. She stared down at her drink and pondered. Centuries of life experience flooded into her mind and overwhelmed her.

And then- a thought struck her. It was a small one, not really of much note... but it made her pause. It was just a small question, and one that had crossed her mind before, though she hadn't thought about it any further.

But it intrigued her. Celestia quickly rose from her seat and levitated her cup to a nearby counter. Not wanting to waste any time she teleported herself into her Castle's library. She looked around and quickly began walking down isles of ancient texts. She came to a small cove within a corner, and opened the door.

Inside were the oldest of writings known to her kind. Most of the texts inside couldn't be read by ponies, as the languages were as dead as those who had written them. But, Celestia had been versed in most every ancient or dead language.

Her magic lit up specific books and pulled them to her. Each one opened and floated around her. Celestia stood in the center of the room, rapidly flipping through the pages of one book, then moving onto the next.

The thought she'd had... it had turned from a simple idea, to a question she needed to know the answer to. It was louder in her mind now, and had taken over every other thought in her mind. Her eyes skimmed the pages quickly, hoping to find something, even a small mention of something that would give her an answer, or at least a vague idea.

Was it possible... even in the slightest amount, that someone else could wield the Elements of Harmony?

Chapter 5

Applejack

The sun was barely peeking its way past distant hills and yet, Applejack lay awake in bed. She'd awoken early, too early. An instinct left over from living and working on her family's Apple farm. The noise of the big city was still difficult for her to get used to, making it even harder to fall asleep in an already unfamiliar setting.

The early morning was one of the few, slightly quieter moments of the day- though not by much. The covers were still warm, and Applejack was tempted to simply try and fall back asleep. But, she didn't want to. So, she arose and pushed the covers off, facing the chilling cool-ness of the air around her.

She brushed her mane and tied her golden locks into two small ponytails. She stepped quietly out of her room and stopped just outside her Aunt and Uncle's bedroom. Their door was shut, and notably she could still hear the gentle sound of snores and rustling bedding.

Applejack made her way to the small kitchen, tucked away in a corner of the home. The dining area was far larger than the kitchen, and separate from it... unlike the conjoined one in her family's home. There were many small details like this that Applejack didn't understand about fancy livin'.

The filly looked around the cabinets and pantry, trying to decide what she could make for breakfast. She knew her Aunt and Uncle wouldn't be asleep for long, and she desperately wanted to lend a hoof in hospitality. If she was going to stay there, she might as well make herself useful.

She gathered eggs, flour, sugar and milk and began mixing together a simple pancake mix. Normally she'd be inclined to mix in applesauce, or serve them with apple slices. But, there were none here, and she wasn't sure how well oranges would go with pancakes.

Half an hour later, Aunt and Uncle Orange had risen and were getting ready for their day. Uncle Orange stopped brushing his mane into place and made a curious expression. He looked to his wife who was comparing different extravagant necklaces in front of a mirror.

"Do you smell that?" He asked, setting down the brush and walking towards their bedroom door.

"Hm?" Aunt Orange hummed, not noticing as her husband walked away.

Uncle Orange opened the door and the sweet, homely smell wafted into the room. Pancakes... he hadn't had such a simple food in a long time. He peered down the hall and heard the gentle clanging of someone working in the kitchen. He leaned back in the bedroom and looked towards his wife.

"I believe someone is treating us to breakfast." He called back, a cheeky grin spread across his face.

Aunt Orange finally tuned into what her husband was talking about, and she set down her necklaces on the dresser.

"What?" She asked, turning and looking puzzled. She stepped towards the bedroom door and also peered down the hall.

The sweet, alluring scent of pancakes enveloped Aunt Orange, and she felt a swell of emotions. The recipe she was sure her niece was using... she hadn't had it in so long, but the memories of family and days gone by flooded into her mind.

Compelled by memories, Aunt Orange rushed out of her room and down the hall. She stood staring for a moment, watching as her niece rushed around the kitchen. Applejack flipped the pancakes with professional ease, and quickly plated them in a pleasingly golden-brown stack. She had only been cooking for a short time, but the single plate she was using to store them was stacked considerably high.

Aunt Orange shook herself out of her shocked state, and quickly rushed over to her niece.

"Applejack dear- what is all this?" She asked, still bewildered by her niece's quick cooking skills.

Applejack twitched at her Aunt's sudden appearance, but quickly maintained her previous composure. She didn't even look over at her Aunt as she continued cooking.

"Sorry Auntie Orange- I'll clean all this up!" She replied, pouring the last of the batter onto a skillet.

"I jus' thought it'd be nice if I... well since y'all... you and Uncle have been so welcoming to me- I thought I should make some breakfast... as a thank you, I guess." The filly trailed off as she flipped and plated the last pancakes. She gave a weary glance to her Aunt.

Aunt Orange blinked and gave a small smile. "Well, that was very kind of you, dear." She replied. "I'm sure they'd go well with some fresh orange juice- or slices. Here, let me help you take them to the table."

Aunt Orange carried the plate with a practiced grace, the considerable stack didn't sway or wobble once as she set it down on the neat white table cloth. Applejack couldn't wait to dig in- all that work had made her hungry. Though she knew her Aunt and Uncle had a certain etiquette when eating their meals, even if there weren't any other guests around.

Uncle Orange appeared in the dining room not long after, and together the three had a nice, albeit quiet meal. Applejack thought of striking up a conversation many times. But in between her actively trying to remember her manners, and actually eating the food, she couldn't find a good time to break the ice.

Sometime after breakfast, Applejack sat alone in the living room of her Aunt and Uncle's home. Her Uncle had gone out to the market, and she was sure he'd be gone for quite some time. Everything seemed to take longer here, in the big city- and yet move at a rapid pace. She wondered how her family ever got used to it... she wasn't sure she ever would.

She sat staring at the various strange decor pieces and professionally done photographs of her Aunt and Uncle scattered about the walls. Well, scattered wasn't entirely the best word- everything was truly organized and thoroughly thought out.

Every decoration precisely placed, down to the color coordination of the entire room. The rest of their home was much in the same way, though to Applejack, was far more noticeable in the living room. She rubbed her leg nervously as she gazed around the room. She'd already helped out with chores and cleaned the dishes she'd used. Now... well she wasn't sure what to do, except take in the pretty- but odd scenery.

She heard a sudden clatter in the next room, and she quickly turned her attention to the noise. Glad to finally have something other than her surroundings to focus on. She promptly got up and headed towards the origin of the sound. The room just past the living room was a small washing room, of which the door was usually kept shut.

As Applejack rounded the corner she saw her Aunt hauling a basketful of fresh, shiny oranges in from a screen door. Applejack stole a glance behind her Aunt, and, for somehow the first time since being there- saw the green and luscious backyard just beyond the screen door.

She was curious about the yard beyond, but quickly drew her attention back to her Aunt. Aunt Orange was struggling with the basket strapped to her back as she moved past the washing bins. Her Aunts usually perfect mane was bundled into a tight braid that was propped up high. Her neck was twisted to look back at where the basket had been caught. She grunted as she scrapped it along the wall, trying to pry it free.

With the jerky motion, the oranges piled into the basket began to shake and roll. Applejack jumped forward as a single, stray orange fell out of the basket.

She quickly swiped the fruit before it fell onto the floor. She held it gently in her hoofs and looked up at her Aunt. Apparently her Aunt hadn't noticed her until that moment.

"Oh, thank you." She huffed, twisting her legs as she clambered out of the room and into the small hallway. Aunt Orange wiped a hoof across her forehead and sighed.

"It's such a pain to get this darned basket through here!" She huffed. She glanced back at the wall, thankful that the paint hadn't been scrapped off in the struggle. Though she was sure it was only a matter of time before that might happen.

"Why don't ya use a smaller basket?" Applejack asked, placing the runaway orange back in with the rest.

Aunt Orange began making her way towards the kitchen, replying as she walked. "I would love to, but unfortunately-" She gently tilted her hips and slid the basket onto the countertop.

"It is the only basket that will fit a full harvest of oranges from the trees." She stated. Aunt Orange began inspecting the oranges, ensuring nothing was rotten or damaged.

"Well, if ya need help bringin' them in... I can help with that." Applejack stepped forward. She wasn't sure how different harvesting oranges would be, compared to apples. But, she was more than sure she was capable of it. She might even enjoy it. It'd be one more step to this place feeling like home.

Aunt Orange stopped her inspection and looked to her niece. She could see the hope in her shimmering green eyes, and Aunt Orange knew that even at this young age, Applejack was well versed in harvesting and preserving fruit.

In many ways, and in ways she wouldn't ever admit, the home that Aunt Orange forged for herself was incredibly similar to the life she'd left behind in Ponyville.

Aunt Orange sighed, and carefully considered her words as she spoke.

"Alright Applejack, I suppose that would be fine. The next time I need to harvest some oranges, I will enlist your help." Aunt Orange felt a small swell of pride as she saw her niece's eyes light up at her response. She supposed that if Applejack was to truly stay here long-term, that she ought to learn the tricks of the trade. She had much to learn about business in the big city.

Applejack leaned up and looked at the oranges, and the many supplies her Aunt had out to begin work.

"So... what do ya make with oranges, anyhow?" She asked. Applejack was sure that her Aunt had a similar gig that her own Apple family did back home- selling fruity goods to the local stores. She was sure of the WHY but not the HOW. She had never heard of an orange pie- or orange cider, or anything of the like.

In her mind, oranges were a more limiting fruit. But, it was her Aunt AND Uncle's talent... and they were related to her, so there must be SOME use these fruits had.

Aunt Orange replied, and began flipping through the pages of a recipe book she'd made herself.

"You're Uncle and I sell many treats and specialty foods at our store, most of which you can ONLY find in our store- that's the key to drawing ponies in." She replied, feeling herself become enthused with explaining her business practice.

"Treats?" Applejack questioned. "Like, candy?"

"Sometimes yes," Aunt Orange replied, flipping through the pages of her recipe book. "Although we make a lot more than that."

"We make cakes and preserves. If it's a very hot summer we sell popsicles and ice-cream. Ponies around here especially enjoy our marmalades and of course, candied peels."

Aunt Orange carried on for some time, telling her niece not only of recipes, but also new food ideas she'd been having, and thought of selling in their store. Applejack listened with great interest, gradually becoming interested in trying these foods, and wanting to learn to make them herself.

The day drifted by and Applejack had helped- though mostly watched- as her Aunt worked at making new treats to bring into the store. After many hours of hard and dedicated work, Aunt Orange packed up the supplies and left to drop off the goods. Though she had left Applejack with one of the chocolate-orange muffins she'd just baked.

Applejack had been put off by the flavor concept, but found it to be one of the best muffins she'd ever had. Still not as great as her Granny's apple-cinnamon muffins- but still good. Her Uncle had come home from the market not long after, and he began preparing dinner. Thankfully, no-one was expected to show up for the evening, so the meal would be considerably better than a pathetically small appetizer.

With her Aunt and Uncle preoccupied, Applejack found herself sitting alone in the living room once more. This time she took in more of the details of her surroundings. She noticed a large binder stuffed at the bottom of a nearby dresser.

The side exposed looked much like the many family albums back home, though considerably faded. Applejack quickly pulled the binder out of its spot, and laid on her stomach on the floor as she looked it over.

It was a family album, as she'd expected. Though the album was unlabeled, she was sure it held many great memories from her Aunt's life- probably some from her Uncle's side as well.

Applejack hadn't asked about her Aunts previous life when she'd arrived. She hadn't thought it right to ask, though she was immensely curious about it.

Applejack slowly opened the book, gently flipping the cover open, as if the book would crumble into dust if she was too rough with it.

Her eyes drew in the captured moments before her. Her Aunt and Mother as small foals, playing, hiding under covers, running through green fields and flower beds. Moments from their early life held still in a single frame. Applejack felt her eyes well up as she flipped through the pages, and took in the scenes before her. But one image made her pause, and the tears as well stood still, refusing to fall from her eyes.

She took a closer look, and was confused. She flipped back through the previous pages and took in more details she hadn't noticed before. She had only been focused on seeing her mother, and she had seen her- and her aunt at early stages of their life. But, a now glaring detail she'd at first missed was the scenery around the two fillies- and she had only noticed it when looking at the cutiemark of a stallion she didn't recognize.

Her Mother and Aunt were in an orchard, but NOT of Apples. Not a single apple tree- nor orange tree- were around either mare in any picture. And, prominently, any extra family member had a PEAR cutiemark. Applejack rapidly flipped through the previous pages- and the realization hit her like a fully-loaded apple cart.

It shouldn't be possible- heck she didn't even entirely believe it- but, it HAD to be true. Her Mother had been a pear?! The sudden realization ripped Applejack out of her melancholy.

How come she'd never been told this? How come Granny always showed such hatred for pears- knowing her Mother was one! Her parents could have told her- they'd had so much time to. But now they never could... she wondered if Big Mac knew. Would Granny even say anything? She'd been so distant since Ma and Pa were... gone.

Applejack rubbed her head and folded the book shut. She placed one hoof over the cover and sighed. The realization was a shocker to her, though it hadn't changed how she'd felt about her Mother.... though she certainly had questions.

Her Aunt wasn't a pear either though, Applejack noted. She was an Orange, and she had such a passion for the fruit. Yet how could she have gotten a different cutiemark? Did her family disapprove? So many questions filled Applejack's mind, and many of which she wasn't sure it was her place to ask.

Applejack turned her head to the doorway as she heard hoove-steps approaching. Her Uncle walked into the living room and smiled at her.

"Dinner is in the oven, it should be ready in about an hour." He announced, clearly proud of the meal he'd spent the last few hours making.

He noticed the binder Applejack held under her hooves and his body suddenly stiffened. "Oh..." he said, unsure of what he should say.

He slowly walked over to where Applejack sat and looked down at the dusty album. "You're um... thinking of your parents, right?" He asked, his tone hesitant.

Applejack nodded, and glanced at the binder beneath her. She slid it towards her Uncle and stood up from the floor.

"Yeah..." she replied. "I just... I didn't know my Momma... I didn't know she was a pear- or Auntie Orange." Applejack concluded, still feeling confused and a little betrayed.

"OH." Uncle Orange said, now feeling even more put on the spot. His wife's past wasn't something she liked to speak on- and he knew she only kept those pictures for the sake of her sister.

"Well... your Aunt doesn't really like to talk about... that. It wasn't a good life for her. Well, not towards the end anyway..." He trailed off. This entire scenario was incredibly uncomfortable for him. He could only imagine how Applejack must feel. Clearly the Apples hadn't talked about the past either.

From what he'd heard from his wife, he didn't hold it against them. That entire time the pear farm neighbored the apples... It wasn't fun for anyone involved.

"I'm sure your parents had good reason to not tell you." He still wasn't sure what to say- or if he even should. He had never met his wife's sister- or her family until Applejack had come knocking at their door. Though he had consoled his wife when her sister was gone. That was what sent Applejack here, after all.

"Their time at the Pear farm," Uncle Orange continued, "Your mother and your aunt- it was not an easy time for them. Circumstances... certain circumstances made their lives very difficult. For one reason or another." He wasn't sure this was going anywhere, or if it was bringing any solace to his niece.

Applejack stared at the carpet as her Uncle spoke. She was still confused... but if it was something painful for her Mother and Aunt to remember... maybe it was best she didn't know about it. Or ask.

Uncle Orange rubbed his foreleg nervously and looked at the album again. It was probably only a matter of time before Applejack would've learned about her messy family history. And maybe it was a good thing his wife wasn't here to deal with it on her own. Though he wasn't faring much better in comforting his niece.

As he stared at the cover though, an idea struck him. He promptly picked up the binder and began making his way towards the bedroom hallway.

"Hold on- I have an idea. Just wait here." He called back.

Applejack looked up as he left and watched him rush out of the living room. She was even more confused by this action, but she promptly took a seat on the couch again.

Ten minutes later, her Uncle re-emerged from the bedroom hall, carrying a shiny golden chain in one of his hooves. Applejack sat upright, and stared with intense curiosity as her Uncle walked over and presented the chain to her.

The chain was attached to a small love-heart shaped locket. Applejack gently took the necklace and held it in her hooves, inspecting it closely.

"I know you don't have much here left from your Mother or Father." Uncle Orange began. "But we did get a photo in the mail, not long after they got married. Your Aunt made several copies- she was so happy for them."

Applejack noticed a small groove in one of the sides of the locked, and gently popped it open. Inside, on either side contained a picture of her mother and father. They looked as happy and in love as they ever had. Her Father's mane shined a brilliant red... so close to the mane of her baby sister back home. And her mother was covered in the pretty yellow flowers that always seemed to be around her.

"It's not much, and anyway that locket needed to be used." Uncle Orange commented. "But, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have a little piece of your home to keep here with you."

Applejack's eyes welled with tears as she stared at the images, and she promptly slid the chain around her neck. It was cold, but a stark reminder of something near and dear to her.

"Thank you." She replied, looking up at her Uncle. He smiled back, his smile hiding the worry that his wife might be upset at him cutting one of the pictures she'd been storing. He'd explain it to her, and he was sure she'd understand. Although he knew Applejack would likely have many questions when Aunt Orange returned home.

With that, her Uncle made his way back into the kitchen and began setting the dining table for dinner. Applejack gently shut the locket closed, and looked down at it as she held it in her hooves. Now her parents would be there for her, no matter where she was, or what she was going through.

Leaving home was hard... but maybe this new place- with all of its flashing lights and loud noises could be a new home, just as loving and caring as her previous one.

Chapter 6

Pinkamina

Pinkamina's bunk bed thunked and rattled as her slightly younger twin sister crawled down from the top bunk. She was further pulled from the gentle lull of sleep as she heard her other two sisters- both older than her, arise from their own beds. Soon after Pinkamina also rose and began brushing her mess of a dark pink mane into its usual plain shape.

She followed her sisters downstairs and into the family dining room, where their mother had already prepared their pebble porridge for breakfast. As her family sat in silence, and ate their usually boring array of rock-themed foods, Pinkamina felt her mind wander. She wasn't particularly imaginative, as her dull surroundings provided little to imagine with.

And yet, she found that she wanted to let her mind wander. She wondered about the greenery and plant life she'd seen in town. About the ponies that lived there, and the lives they had. What they did for fun- and if their lives were as dull as hers.

Pinkamina was, unfortunately, snapped back to reality as her elder sister, Limestone, prodded her and silently nodded to Pinkamina's mostly full bowl of porridge. Pinkamina sighed and continued eating her breakfast. She hadn't realized in her day-dreaming that she had been neglecting her food, and she knew her parents never approved of wasting meals.

The eldest child of the Pie family, Maud, slowly and meticulously set her spoon and bowl off to the side. She rested her hooves on the table, one placed on the other, and lifted her head to address her parents, though she knew her younger sisters would hear her declaration.

"I was accepted into the Preparatory School of Sedimentary." She said flatly.

Pinkamina was elated that finally, someone decided to start a conversation this morning. Most breakfasts were spent in silence, besides the noise of eating and cutlery being used. Pinkamina was also elated at her sister's statement, though she took care to not reveal too much of her excitement. Still, she looked on at her older sister and parents, as did Marble and Limestone.

"Mm." Their father nodded, setting down his own spoon. "When do they desire you to join their congregation?"

Pinkamina was often confused about the phrasings her father chose, though she gathered that her father meant: "When will you be joining the school?"

"They begin classes next month. They will have an orientation week, and I am to attend that as well." Maud replied, her tone as mild and controlled as ever.

Pinkamina knew, though no sign could be seen on her voice nor in her tone, that Maud was as delighted as ever to join a school she'd worked so hard to be a part of.

"Then you shall begin your transition to this new venture. Your mother will help you gather your needed materials within the town." Their father replied. He picked up his utensil again and just like that, breakfast was silent once again.

After the table was cleared, the mares set out to complete their work for the day. Pinkamina was excited for Maud, though as she marched out the door of their home, and towards the south field, a realization hit her.

If Maud was leaving for school, Pinkamina wouldn't see her for a long, long time.

Pinkamina's pace slowed as she walked, reality setting in. She didn't hate, or even resent her life. Her family simply were, how they were. And she loved them for who they were, dullness and all.

But life weighed on her often, and Maud was one of the only lights consistently comforting in her dark moments. Pinkamina felt herself becoming overwhelmed by this sudden realization. She looked around her wildly. Her sisters weren't anywhere in sight, nor either of her parents.

They'd all gone off to complete their work for the day, and she knew that was also expected of her. She briefly considered running around the massive field to search for one of them- just to comfort her for the moment. But that idea was soon dashed as she knew none of them would console her the way she needed, and more than that, she would be told to get back to her work.

Solemnly, Pinkamina walked towards the mountain range that bordered her family's farm, and separated them from the nearest town. She walked, head hung low, until she felt her head bump into a solid stone wall.

The tiny, pale pink foal sunk to the dusty ground beneath her, totally defeated. She curled her legs up and silently wept. She didn't much care if one of her family found her in this condition, nor did she care if they berated her for neglecting her work. She didn't care about anything at the moment, except for the deep despair she felt.

After some several minutes of her silent tears, Pinkamina lifted her head and looked around her. She wiped her tears away and sighed. She felt only mildly better, though she knew the loss of Maud, if only for a time, would still weigh on her.

As she looked around at her surroundings she spotted a small, barely noticeable hole in the side of the cliff she was leaning against. Only a few paces away from her, a small crack in the rock gave way to a hole, barely large enough for a small foal to fit inside of.

Pinkamina stared at the opening curiously. And then, she felt a twinge of... something. The feeling made her stand up and snap to her senses. She looked around her again, her family's home barely visible in the distance. She looked back at the hole, and felt that same, sudden twinge of... something she couldn't understand.

But she felt... suddenly curious and aware. She had no idea what the hole in the base of the cliff could lead to... but she WANTED to know. Something, the twinge, made her want to know. This strange curiosity.... this weird foresight- it made her want to crawl down into the earth, and see what lie beyond.

Pinkamina approached the opening, and peered down into the crevice. The only thing visible was darkness, though Pinkamina felt- knew even, that SOMETHING was calling her down there. Something without a voice or sound, just a feeling. But a compelling feeling, that made her suddenly aware of all that was around her, every sight and sound, texture or smell.

And though her eyes only perceived the darkness in the stone beyond, she knew something- just something was worth finding. She stepped closer, and gently placed a single hoof into the void beyond. Nothing happened, though she had expected something to.

But the lack of anything also intrigued her. Her hoof hadn't touched stone, or dirt, or anything else common to the underground. That meant there was more space down there than she could see. That mystery further compelled her. She was sure she could fit down there- if only she would-

"Pinkamina!" A voice snapped behind her.

She didn't jump, but quickly whirled around to see two of her sisters watching her. One with a very annoyed expression, and one with a very confused expression.

"What are you doing!?" Limestone continued. She was harnessed to a sizable wagon of rocks. Marble stood beside her, holding in her mouth her own piled up basket of rocks.

Pinkamina quickly pulled her hooves from the strange crevice, and stood in front of it. Guilt mixed with shame made her more inclined to hide her actions... though there wasn't much to hide in the first place.

"Nothing..." Pinkamina replied. She was sure this cover up was fool-proof.

"Nothing doesn't keep you from doing your work!" Limestone snapped back. The young mare quickly unlatched herself from the wagon and rushed over to where Pinkamina stood.

"Move." She growled, her frustration at the situation only growing with Pinkamina's further denial.

Pinkamina swiftly moved out of her sister's way, not taking a chance at making her even more angry.

Limestone stared for a moment at the base of the cliff. She had expected something to be there, an animal or something else that would've distracted her head-in-the-clouds younger sister.

All that she could see, however, was a hole in the base of the cliff. She brushed a hoof over the area, and felt her anger quell slightly. Only slightly though, as now she was questioning her sister's sanity.

Limestone looked to Pinkamina, whose blue eyes stared up at her with a particular innocence. Limestone stared back, her green eyes bubbling with stress and confusion.

"Nothing's there." She finally commented.

Pinkamina nodded. "Yeah, I told you that." She replied.

Limestone's nostrils flared and she leaned in close to her younger sister. "Are you getting smart with me?" She hissed, her tone threatening to turn angry once more.

Pinkamina recognized this, and backed away, making her way towards Marble.

"N-no I'm not. I'm sorry Limestone." She replied, lowering her head and avoiding eye contact.

Limestone huffed and re-attached herself to the wagon. "Whatever." She snipped. "Since you can't get anything done without being watched, Marble is gonna help you on your side for the rest of the day." Limestone continued.

She looked to both her sisters, and gestured towards the field Pinkamina had entirely ignored. "I still got a lot more work to do- but if I catch you slacking off again..." Limestone trailed off.

In truth, she didn't have any threat to use, as the only "punishments" that her household dealt was doing various chores around the home. Which was often part of their regular work in a day regardless. But, she didn't need to remind her sisters of any future discipline, as both of them feared her anger enough to get their work done.

With that, Limestone departed from the south field, and began her workload once more. Pinkamina watched on as her elder sister walked away, and finally out of sight.

She looked to her younger twin, Marble. Marble nodded her head towards the field and Pinkamina nodded. She walked with the same, depressed pace as she usually did while working in the rock fields. But as the two sisters carried on, Pinkamina couldn't let go of that compelling feeling.

She didn't know what it meant, or why she wanted to know so much. It defied all logic or reason. The feeling was so strong, it compelled and pulled her towards the unknown. And, as she was dragged back into the safe, known reality she lived day-to-day, Pinkamina gave a final, desperate glance back at the crevice.

It was the first time since that previous day that she'd felt a spark of something new and exciting, and she wasn't going to let that feeling go ever again.

Chapter 7

Rarity

Rarity was still sniffling when she set hoof back into her family's home. Tears still streaming down her small, pink cheeks, turned that color from the stress and crying. Not only had her one chance at a grand opening in the school's play been ruined by the rain, but she'd embarrassed herself completely in front of her entire class.

Her mother quietly shut the door behind the two of them and placed a gentle hoof on Rarity's shoulder. Cookie had arrived at the school not long after Rarity's own arrival. The rain, combined with general motherly worry, had sent her looking for Rarity to bring her home.

Now within the familiar walls of her home, Rarity felt even more compelled to tears. She'd missed her one shot at a life she had dreamed endlessly about. Rarity shuffled away to her room, wanting to be alone to grieve her flower costumes and hopes of flamboyant fashion.

As she sulked in her room, tears and bitter thoughts eventually gave way to heavy sleep. And before Rarity could position herself under her comforters, the tiny unicorn foal had drifted off into a strange dream. One of stressful situations and questionable fashion choices, events that, inevitably, her mind would forget come the waking hours.

Rarity wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep for when her dreary mind returned to the waking world. But, as she rolled around her bed and stretched, she figured she must have slept the entire evening and night, as the early glimpses of sunlight peeked through her curtains and danced across her floor.

She rubbed at her eyes and tried to remember what had woken her up in the first place. Just as she climbed out of her bed and began walking to her dresser, she heard it again. The mumbled conversation of her parents, echoing from down the hall in their room. She tried not to pay attention to it as she began brushing her purple mane back into place.

She frowned at the mess her sleep had turned it into, and made sure to tug hard at the stubborn knots. Despite her dis-interest in her parent's conversation, she found herself listening to it anyway. Her waking mind turning the mumbles into actual understandable words. She even found herself leaning slightly to her left, towards her partially opened bedroom door.

"-what to do with it all." Cookie was muttering, her voice hitching with tears she was suppressing.

"...I... Don't know, love." Hondo replied. His own voice carried a kind tone, though also one of indecision.

"I don't want her things just to sit there and rot... But I can't bear going in there." Cookie sputtered, her suppressed tears welling up in her voice.

"I know." Hondo replied back.

Rarity was... puzzled by this conversation, but finished brushing her mane and "fixing herself up", as her mother would say. She heard miscellaneous shuffling noises emit from her parents' room before they quickly left their room and disappeared out of hearing range.

Rarity stood in front of her bedroom door, wondering what she should do. She hated hearing her mother so upset, though she wasn't sure what comfort she could possibly provide. Her indecisiveness was cut off as her horn began spritzing tiny sparks of magic, in the same way it had the day before.

Rarity gasped at this and ran to her bed. "Oh no, you won't!" She snapped, grabbing a pillow from her bed and stuffing it over her horn. "I won't have you distracting me again today!"

Rarity had still not been able to figure out why her magic had led her to the house's spare storage room. And in truth, she had no interest in knowing. Nothing important was in there... right?

As if answering her internal question, her horn lit up in a brighter burst of magic, levitating the pillow off her head and throwing it back onto her bed.

"What?! Oh! Rude!" Rarity yelped, glaring upward at her short horn. "You can't do that without my permission!"

Defiantly, the magic warbling around her horn jolted forward, causing Rarity to stumble forward as well, her tiny hooves stumbling across the floor. Deciding it would be best to give in, given the mysterious nature of Unicorn horns, Rarity complied.

She let her hooves go limp and allowed her magic to drag her wherever it seemed to be adamant on taking her. And again, like the day previous, the magic guided her out of her room, down the long hallway, and to the same storage room. Her magic pushed its way through the partially opened door and into the room, releasing her once she was standing in the middle of the room.

Rarity huffed and looked around the room. Old pieces of furniture were shoved to the back of the unlit room, their miscellaneous shapes covered by white cloths. Boxes were also piled around the walls of the room, some of a particularly big size. As Rarity looked around the room, she realized the familiarity of the hidden objects and suddenly remembered why her mother must have been so distraught earlier.

Just the week prior, while Rarity had been solely focused on sewing her costumes, her parents had moved all of these items into the spare room. One that she had been told would eventually be her infant sister's room, when she was old enough. The items and furniture had belonged to Rarity's grandmother.

Rarity approached a nearby, small sealed box. It was a beautiful pale green and pink box, with a matching lid. She gently opened it and marveled at the brooch collection inside. In particular, one large oval-shaped one towards the bottom of the box caught her eye. She lifted it out of the box, looking it over. She couldn't tell what the color had been before the layers of thick dust and grime that were on it currently.

She curled her lip at the muddied coloration of the brooch and set it back into the box, wiping her hoof on the side of the box afterwards. She'd remembered how sad her mother had been, and though she tried not to show it now, Rarity knew her mother was still very sad. She suspected she would still be sad for a while longer.

Rarity stared at the brooch box before her. Quite a few of the other beautiful pins also shared the unfortunate dis-coloration of the one she'd picked up. It was a shame, really. Rarity was sure they were so pretty before the dust and dirt. She wanted to know what they'd looked like before the wear-and-tear of use had brought them.

She stared curiously at the box for a moment longer, almost feeling a sense of... creativity? Wonder? She wasn't sure. She was pulled from her thoughts when she heard her father calling for her. The distance of his voice clearly calling to her from just outside her bedroom.

"I'm coming!" Rarity called out, quickly setting down the box, though she felt the urge to take it with her.

She quickly left the spare room and trotted down the hall, where her father stood just outside her bedroom door. He gave her a curious look, but shook his head and began walking back towards the entrance of the hall.

Rarity happily followed along with him, the scent of a freshly prepared breakfast enveloping the space they were in. Despite the terrible night she'd had previously... and the lingering feelings of disappointment, Rarity felt oddly happy.

Excited even, though she couldn't understand why. She wasn't sure why she'd been drawn to that room, but it had her in a curious grip now. And, well, since her dreams of being a fashionista were clearly stomped into the ground, maybe she would have enough free-time to inspect that brooch box properly... just maybe.

Chapter 8

Rainbow Dash

The bright blue comforter and matching cloud-shaped pillows had been the only bright thing in Rainbow's life as of recently. Oh sure, she'd tried to go outside and enjoy the day, but she never seemed to make it longer than a few minutes without getting inexplicably bored. She hated this feeling, though she couldn't understand what it was.

She still got out of bed, but it took her far longer than it ever had before, and as each day dragged on, she found it more and more difficult to leave her soft, welcoming sheets. Her parents had tried their best to encourage her, to help her, in their own unique way. They'd even gone as far as bringing board games into her room and chatting with her, on the days she'd found it hardest to leave.

But, despite these efforts, it still hadn't worked. By the time Bow and Windy had felt it safe enough to allow Rainbow back into the summer flight camp, the season had ended. Rainbow had already been frustrated at being taken out early- but this had been the clincher.

Her parents had assured her that "there was always next summer!" but that hadn't done enough to soothe her pain. She hated being home, but she couldn't stand being outside either. It was driving her crazy. In her bed was where she lay now, curled up in the soft safety of her blankets, her rainbow mane strewn across the lumpy shape of her pillow.

Rainbow was staring at the small sliver of sunlight that was peeking through her curtains, shining the bright beam on the opposite wall. Through the sliver, she could see the blurred silhouette of clouds floating along, casting a deep blue shadow temporarily over the light as it floated by.

She got so lost in the beam of light that the sudden knock on her bedroom door nearly made her jump out of her skin. She yelped, and immediately felt ashamed at doing so. Rainbow turned, well more tumbled, to her other side and sat upright in her bed.

"Yeah?" She called out, her voice cracking.

"Rainbow dear- are you alright?" Her mother's voice called from the other side, muffled slightly by the door.

Rainbow huffed a sigh, but replied. "Yeah... I'm okay."

She bunched her blankets up closer to her, and wrapped the excess cloth around her head and shoulders.

"Well, um, sweetie, your father has a surprise for you downstairs. I-if you'd like it, I don't want you to do anything you don't want to." Windy replied. Rainbow could tell by her tone that she was in a worrying mood.

For as generally upset and isolated Rainbow had felt these past few weeks, she also had begun to see the ways in which her parents tried so hard to help her. And, although she really didn't want to get up today... well, heck, what would be the trouble if she entertained them for a moment?

"Okay." Rainbow replied, shoving off her comforter and shuddering at the static the cloth rippled over her mane and coat.

"Okay, what?" Windy replied.

"Like- okay I'll go downstairs." Rainbow huffed, momentarily considering rejecting the offer, and crawling back under her blankets.

"Oh! Okay- alright. Well, I'll see you downstairs, sweetie." Windy chirped, and Rainbow heard her hooves receding back down the hallway.

Rainbow took her time walking to her door and opening it. She noticed the brightness of the rest of the house compared to her room. It hit her in that moment that she didn't actually know what time it was.

Burying that thought, Rainbow continued out of her room, leaving her bedroom door open just a crack. Slowly, as if preventing something, she made her way downstairs. She had expected to hear her parents talking in the usual, excited way that they did. But she didn't hear that, or even any hushed whispers of excitement, like they'd done to spoil her "surprise" birthday party last year.

The silence made her pause, standing still on the final step of the stairs. To her right was the open living room, and no-one sat in there, as far as she could see. To her left was the wall and doorway leading into the kitchen, where she suspected her parents were. For some odd reason, she felt as though she was in trouble, though she hadn't done anything recently to warrant that fear.

The tension in the air kept her there on that final step, hesitating. After a moment, she leaned forward, and peered around the corner of the kitchen entrance. Her parents sat at the table, her mother solemnly sipping a mug of tea. Windy had been looking more and more worried ever since the accident at flight camp.

Rainbow's father sat with his back to her, looking down at something on the table. He held his head in his hoof and let out a deep sigh.

"I think it was a good idea." Windy sighed, taking another slow sip of her drink.

"Yeah... I just... I don't know." Bow replied, tapping his hoof on whatever sat on the tabletop, just out of Rainbow's sight.

Rainbow decided to kill the tension. She pulled back from her looking spot and loudly stomped on the step she was on. She continued her louder hoof steps as she walked off the step and into the kitchen doorway. She noticed how her parents perked up as she entered the room. They both turned to look at her, smiles spreading across their faces as they did so.

"Hey kiddo!" Bow called out, waving to Rainbow Dash as she walked into the room.

Rainbow suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and continued her slow trot to the table. She hopped up onto a nearby seat and gave her father a weary look as he slid the mystery item towards her. She glanced down and immediately recognized them to be two tickets to a flying event, a piece of paper that she'd become intimately familiar with after years of attending Wonderbolt shows. She'd even begun pinning them to the walls of her room.

Rainbow's glance shot back to her parents, a small spark of joy shimmering in her eyes. Her dad smiled back, and he patted the top of her head, ruffling her multicolored mane.

"I was hoping that would cheer you up!" He chuckled, glancing at Windy, who was smiling at the two of them, relieved that it had seemingly worked.

Rainbow sat up in her seat and looked closer at the tickets. Her heart sank a little as she read the name of the team performing, it wasn't any Wonderbolt troop she was familiar with.

"Now- it isn't a Wonderbolt show," Her dad interjected, noticing her declining mood. "They're off performing in Las Pegasus right now." Bow continued.

"But I've heard these guys put on a real good show- fireworks and stuff, I guess." He concluded, hoping his sales pitch would work.

Rainbow Dash squinted as she stared at the tickets, mulling over whether she wanted to bother with a group who weren't the Wonderbolts. She glanced at her parents, their eyes wide with anticipation. From their expressions alone, Rainbow was ready to call it quits and head back to her room and warm bed.

But, in spite of herself and the temptation to return to her room, she nodded and set the tickets back on the table. She couldn't stand the looks they'd been giving her, but she hated hurting their feelings even more.

"Okay, I'll go." She said, leaning back in her seat.

Her Dad yelped with delight, and swiftly swept her up into a bear-hug. Rainbow knew it was coming, though she still groaned in frustration when her mother flew over the kitchen table to join in. She only shoved them away when her face was pressed so hard against their hoofs, that she could feel her face turning pink.

Whoever these "Wing-Wreckers" were, they better have been worth it.

A few hours later, Rainbow's mane was brushed, and she felt mildly excited to go. Sure, she would've been 100 times MORE excited if it was the Wonderbolts- but, a show with fireworks and "crazy" stunts was probably the next best thing. She sat in her family's living room and was lazily running her hoof over their fluffy cloud carpet, leaving lines of circles brushed through the material.

She was just about to call out to her Dad when he appeared in the room, carrying a large, suspicious box in his hooves. Rainbow raised an eyebrow at this, and cringed when she saw the contents of the box as he set it down. Inside were the various pieces of wearable sports memorabilia that her father had been collecting over the years. (Most of which had been around since before Rainbow was born.)

She groaned and reeled away from the box. "Dad- I don't wanna wear any of this." Rainbow said, regretting her decision to attend the show.

"Aw come on kiddo," Bow replied, lifting an eyesore of a foam hat onto his head and wearing it with pride. "We haven't been to a show in months! It'll be fun!"

Rainbow tried (and failed) to pull away as Bow lifted a worn, but loved denim cap out of the box and placed it on Rainbow's head. Faded patches for teams past and present lined the bulk of the hat and added to the weight of it, making it sink on Rainbow's head. Well- that and it was one size too large for her smaller, foal-shaped head.

"Okay- okay!" Rainbow squeaked, hating how high her voice seemed to get whenever she was frustrated. "Can we go now?"

Bow beamed at Rainbow, lifting the brim to look her in the eye. "Yeah, we can go- we wanna make sure we get to our seats on time."

Rainbow muttered to herself in annoyance as they walked to the front door and left their home. "I wasn't the one wasting time with the stupid hats."

The walk to the smaller stadium on the outskirts of Cloudsdale was short, but had taken long enough for Bow to offer Rainbow a ride on his back the last stretch there. Rainbow accepted, though she still noticed the looks some ponies gave her father and his ridiculous foam hat. She buried her face behind the denim cap as they walked.

Finally, they arrived at the stadium, just as the sun was beginning to set, far off in the distance. The heavy shadows cast from the lowering sun were dramatic, the cloud architecture around them taking on a more suspenseful tone. Despite the embarrassment of the day, Rainbow once again felt excited for the event.

Ponies finished filing into their seats as the last rays of sunlight disappeared, bathing the stadium in deep purples and blues. Rainbow squinted and leaned forward as she saw, faintly, figures moving to the center of the stadium grounds.

Bright, multicolored lights suddenly flared on, their loud clicks and electric pulses making Rainbow jump slightly in her seat. The light illuminated a group of four pegasi standing in the center of the stadium grounds. They stood in choreographed poses and waved to the audience as cheers passed through the stadium seats. They all wore brightly colored red and blue costumes, with name tags on their shoulders that Rainbow couldn't make out from the distance.

"How's everyone doing tonight?" One of the performers called out, lifting a microphone in her hooves as she addressed the audience. The attendees called back with various hoots and hollers, clearly excited by the question.

"We're gonna expect a lot more noise from you after we're done here tonight!" Another performer called out, flying above the other and sweeping a hoof over his head in exaggeration. The crowd responded louder this time, roaring up in excitement and cheers.

"Alright!" The two performers called out again, both flying up into the air, as the other two pegasi with them rushed off to the sides. Together, all four began performing a flying routine, involving swooping as low as they could go without hitting the ground, and flying so close they almost- but never did- collide with each other.

Rainbow hadn't even noticed that during the routine, stadium workers had rushed out various props for the oncoming show, as the team dazzled the audience with their flight routine. Which is why she'd been surprised when the performers each landed on four separate pedestals positioned on opposite corners of the grounds.

For the next hour and a half, the audience- and most importantly, Rainbow Dash- was wowed with the various stunts and tricks performed by the Wing-Wreckers. Dodging lightning bursts, spinning around mini cyclones, leaping over fire pits- it was all so much to take in, and Rainbow was loving every second of it.

She'd always known that flying was awesome, and performing for an audience was awesome too- the Wonderbolts did it all the time. But she'd never thought that shows could be so exhilarating or dangerous.

At one point in the show, a performer flew so close to the audience that Rainbow lurched forward in her seat, grabbing onto the denim cap to prevent it from flying off. She'd nearly been thrown by the wind created by that one pegasus- it was amazing! And, just when Rainbow was sure she'd seen all the epic-ness she could, she looked on eagerly as the stadium workers pushed out a large crate of fireworks.

The audience cheered, Rainbow and her father joining in, as two of the performers held active sparklers in each hoof and began flying in a slower routine. Twirling and spinning the sparklers, the lights dazzled and illuminated the dark night. Rainbow grinned ear-to-ear, her heart racing, wondering what they would do next.

While the two flying performers spun the sparklers, the other two raced to their respective pedestals. The fountains began sparking to life, shooting off sparks of color and bright light, casting a colorful array over the audience. The two flying performers moved off to the side and began slowly flying in circles, still illuminating the crowd with their sparklers.

As their light died off, the standing performers dramatically unfurled their wings and leapt up into the air. They dived just above the fountain sparks and then soared back up into the sky, kicking up sparks in their wake. The colors swirled with their movements and followed them as they flew. The circling performers beside them tossed down their dead sparklers and joined in.

Together, all four performers dove back down towards the fountains and flew around them in a circular motion. They flew faster and faster around the fountains, and slowly began flying back up into the sky, their wings and created wind pulling the sparks up with them. They flew up and up, carrying the sparks on the tips of their wings, making the colors rise higher and higher into the sky, a beam of vibrant blues, greens, pinks, and yellows casting an amazing light over the crowd.

The energy was high enough to cheer, but everyone in the audience was silent, watching the act before them in awe. The night was already plenty dark and somewhat chilly, but Rainbow didn't notice. The sights before her spreading a warmth from her heart throughout her entire body.

Finally, the beam of light rose to a point as the pegasus performers neared each other, so close to touching. But, just as they flew so close, each performer turned and soared downward, taking their own stream of sparks and light with them. The sparks bloomed and spread across the sky, dimming and turning to small specks of ash once they reached the audience down below. The entire night was illuminated with colored sparks falling down like colored rain, sparkling and shimmering against the dark sky.

The fountains died down, spitting out a few, final bits of light as the pegasus performers flew back to the center of the grounds, and settled themselves in front of the fountains. They waved to the audience, who immediately erupted in cheers. Rainbow joined in with them, feeling as though she'd just experienced the most amazing thing ever to be seen by pony-kind.

Rainbow's heart was still pounding, and her mind still reeling from the amazing show when she arrived home. And that adrenaline-fueled energy continued long into the night, even after she'd been tucked in and her lights turned off. She couldn't stop being excited, the show with its lights and stunts and glamour had captured her entire attention. She hadn't been this excited since her first ever Wonderbolt's show.

She couldn't place it entirely, but she knew that what she'd experienced that night would stay with her for the rest of her life.

Chapter 9

Fluttershy

The first thought to enter Fluttershy's mind as she awoke was that one of her legs was numb. She shifted and pulled her leg out from underneath her. As she felt her leg tingle and come back to its senses, her mind began to awake further. She felt the soft, dry grass beneath her, and reveled in the smell of a freshly rained-on forest. It was one of the most delightful scents she had ever witnessed, so fresh and so calming.

The bold scent, of wet pine and moistened dirt, is what jolted her fully awake. The scent all at once reminded her where she was and how she wound up there. Her large teal eyes shot open, and she stood up quickly, looking frantically around her. The few animals that had gathered by also sat upright, looking at her with startled expressions.

She was in the same small patch of grass as before... that made sense; where else would she be? A small part of her had hoped, while she slept, that all she'd experienced that day was a bad dream, and she would wake up in her soft cloud bed. Even as nice as it was to meet all these furry creatures, she was so far from home. Flying all that way back... scared her.

Fluttershy stood up on shaky legs and took an uneasy step. Her numb leg was still tingling its way back to functionality. She continued to look around her, and realized her fading vision was because the forest was steadily growing darker.

"Oh NO!" She thought, seeing the last shimmer of sunlight passing over the tops of the trees. Like a timer ticking down for her chance to return home.

She began galloping through the forest. She wasn't sure where she was going. At times, she would stop and try to see where the sunlight was coming from, as if it were a signal to find home again.

The sun seemed to mock her with its descent. She swore it was moving faster than any other sunset she'd ever seen. Before long, the forest was shrouded in deep purples and blues. Fluttershy could hardly see where she was going. She flapped her wings, though the small bit of air she gained didn't help in the slightest. If anything, it seemed to slow her down.

Fluttershy yelped as a thick, stray branch caught her hoof, and she slammed into the greenery below. She lay still for a moment, and fought back tears. She didn't think she was hurt... but that didn't matter to her in the moment. She curled her legs around her and gave a weary look up.

Through a gap in the leaves above, Fluttershy saw a bright sky, still touched by the warmth of the sun. Pinks, oranges, and purples displayed themselves proudly, painting the sky in a wonderfully colorful sunset. The forest, with its endless trees and immense shrubbery, was cast into darkness before the rest of the world. What had once seemed so mystical and alluring before, now seemed intimidating and unkind.

Fluttershy whimpered, and at last let the tears fall. They fell heavy, darkening the plants and dirt below her. They fell on the petals of wildflowers, dripping on them like fresh dew. She shivered as an evening breeze blew through the forest.

After a moment more of crying, Fluttershy sniffled and lifted her head once more to the sky. The scenery above was now a deep purple, speckled with stars. She lifted a hoof and gently wiped away some tears. Even in this moment of fear and despair, she could acknowledge how truly beautiful nature was. As her eyes fell back down to the earth, she froze. Her skin turned chilly and prickly, and every muscle in her stiffened.

Sitting, just a few paces ahead of her, was an animal. Like all the other ones she'd seen today, she didn't know what it was, but it didn't resemble the smaller ones she'd seen. It had a narrow snout, ending in a small black nose. It had pointy ears, of which were perked, and pointed in her direction. And even in the dark, Fluttershy could see it had a vibrant orange coat, with a patch of white fur that traveled from its mouth, down to its chest and stomach.

The large golden eyes of the animal stared at her. At first, it didn't move. Fluttershy was both impressed by, and concerned about how still it sat. She hoped desperately that it would not decide she looked like food. After a moment more of lingering stares, it stood and slowly began approaching Fluttershy.

She felt a chill of fear roll over her once again. She didn't want to get hurt... or worse. She didn't know ANYTHING about these creatures! She was already so scared, and so lost!

As thoughts of panic ran through her head, Fluttershy paused mentally. She quelled the panicked voice in her head, for just a moment. She looked at the animal- really looked at it. She glanced at it's eyes, which were still locked on her. She noticed its slow, deliberate movements. How easily it stepped over brush and twig. Its fluffy tail, swishing gently over the tips of grass.

Somehow, someway, she felt suddenly calm about it approaching her. Despite the potential danger she was in, and despite the fear that she'd just been in, only seconds prior, she felt- or rather KNEW that this animal posed no threat to her.

She remained still as it stepped closer, trying in her own way to mimic the animal's previous stance when staring her down. The animal drew closer, and stopped just in front of her. It remained standing, but lowered its head and began sniffing frantically. Slowly, the animal walked in a circle around Fluttershy. Sniffing at her, and the ground around her all the while.

As Fluttershy understood it, the animal was working things out in its head as it did this. Perhaps putting together what she was, and perhaps even where she came from. It knew she wasn't from around here. She could also tell that as it paced, the animal's guard was being let down. Its fluffy tail wagged again, and it began to prance, rather than walk. She hoped this meant that the animal had, like her, concluded that she meant no harm.

Once the animal circled back around to her front, it sat and looked at her again, with a softer expression this time. More curious, less cautious. Fluttershy felt as though she wanted to say something, though no words came to her. For the first time that day, Fluttershy felt... at peace.

The entire day had been a flurry of emotions and terror. But, despite all that it had brought, the delightful and the frightening, she found solace in this small moment. With the sun completely gone, the night took hold of the forest. She found the dark frightening... but it was also mysterious and even calming. Chirps and calls of various insects were heard, filling the dark with sounds of life.

Interrupting the sounds of the night- a rustling of foliage was heard, from somewhere nearby. She and the animal whipped their heads in the direction of the sound, their ears perking up in sync. Fluttershy couldn't see a thing, but when she turned to glance at the animal beside her, it's eyes seemed fixated on something not too far off.

With swift quietness, the animal lowered its head and began to trot away from Fluttershy. Its steps were quick, but made no noise as it left. Fluttershy felt a sting of panic set in, terrified of being left behind. Without hesitation, she began to mimic the animal's movements, though with some struggle.

She cringed at every small noise she made as she followed the animal, hoping it was heading in a safe direction. Still, her pace of crawling along the forest floor was markedly quieter than the galloping she'd been doing earlier. She tried to keep a similar pace to the animal, though it moved far quicker than she could hope to. Fluttershy winced as her mane and tail were tugged on by the twigs and branches that lie on the ground. Thankfully, none tugged so hard as to stop her in her tracks.

After some time of crawling, and the occasional pause from the animal, which in turn made Fluttershy pause and listen with it, the animal rose to its standing height, and walked more casually. Fluttershy took this as a sign of safety, if only for the moment, and stood up as well, walking alongside the animal. If it had any protest to her walking with it, it gave no indication.

Her fear quelled once more, Fluttershy began to look around her again. She was still in the forest, and from the looks of it, the small field and pond where she'd first found herself were nowhere in sight. Although the darkness could have easily hidden them.

She realized just how confusing the forest was. All of it seemed to look the same at first, but really, it was always different in little ways. She wondered whether she should have taken her chances flying in the rain. But, the reminder of lightning crashing through the storm-clouds quieted that thought.

After some more time of the animal trotting along, it stopped and turned sharply to the left. Fluttershy quickly stopped as well, and followed along this new path. She acknowledged that this animal wasn't really going in any specific direction. It simply traveled where it felt compelled to go. Still, she found comfort in following it.

The two came to a small stream, and the animal leapt over it with ease. It paused on the other side, and tilted it's head as it looked at Fluttershy. She scratched one leg with the other nervously and looked at the stream. It truly wasn't that large of a space to cover, but...

"I-I've never been good at... um... jumping. Or anything athletic, really." She mumbled, her voice even more tender after not being used for several hours.

The animal sniffed and kept trotting along, its fluffy tail wagging as it walked away. Fluttershy whimpered, and looked again at the stream.

"W-well... if that little guy can do it..." She reasoned, steadying her hooves and folding out her wings.

She backed up a few steps, then galloped lightly- and jumped! She saw the ground on the other side of the stream coming towards her. She yelped and flapped her wings sporadically. She awkwardly floated for a moment, then landed on the ground. Glancing behind her, she had cleared the stream and then some. She smiled, feeling just a little bit proud of herself for being able to do that. If she'd been required to do something like that in flight camp, she probably wouldn't have even tried.

Fluttershy turned back towards the animal, who sat on a nearby rock, its head tilted again. She smiled as she walked up to it.

"Did you see?" She asked, her wings fluttering with excitement.

In response, the animal licked its nose. She took that to mean "yes". The animal then dropped down from the rock and began walking towards the base of a massive tree. Fluttershy hadn't noticed, as her attention had mostly been on the animal as they walked, but they'd been under the shade of this tree for quite some time. She looked up and saw it's long, elegant branches, reaching high up and very far out.

The leaves of this particular tree were different from the others she'd seen in the forest. Its branches where long and thin, the leaves hanging down in long streams. They reminded her of a ponie's mane when it gets wet. It seemed that every new thing she came across in this forest was mighty and beautiful.

Looking back at where the animal trotted off to, she saw it stop at the base of the tree and begin wiggling its way underneath. Fluttershy tilted her head as she watched it disappear. Carefully and quietly, she followed the animal. There was a small gap between the tree and dirt, and in that hole was where the animal was now. It had curled itself up and seemed to no longer have interest in whatever Fluttershy was doing.

Fluttershy backed up from the hole, and took a moment to look around, once again taking in the scale of the tree she was under. She decided that if this animal deemed this tree a safe place to stay... then perhaps she would find safety here as well. She backed up further and looked closer at the tree. Its body was bent and twisted in a unique shape. And, not far up the tree, was a small nook that Fluttershy hoped would be just enough room for her. She steadied herself, and took a deep breath.

"Okay Fluttershy... you can do this..." She whispered.

She folded out her wings and began flapping them. She was unsteady, but began to lift off the ground. Slowly. Once she felt all four of her hooves lift off, she began flapping her wings harder. She groaned, feeling her wings growing tired already. She looked up, seeing the nook of the tree not too far away. She strained, and began flying towards it.

She wobbled in midair, scared at every moment that her wings would give out, and she'd fall. Her back began aching along with her wings, and she wanted to give up. Seeing the nook only a few steps ahead of her, she reached out a hoof and touched the bark. Not wanting to fall onto the grass and rocks below, she flapped her wings harder, giving herself the final push she needed.

Finally, both her front hooves grasped the base of the nook. Then a third hoof, and finally, she landed, albeit a bit shakily, on the tree. She sighed in relief and exhaustion, letting herself fall onto the solid bark. It wasn't as comfortable as the clouds she was used to, but it was safe. And for tonight at least, that was all she needed. She hoped that morning light would guide her way back home.

Several days later, Fluttershy was beginning to lose hope of ever seeing Cloudsdale, or her parents again. She had learned many things about surviving in the woods since then, but she still wished to be home. She was worried about her parents and younger brother.

The only bright side to her being lost in this seemingly endless forest was all the animal friends she'd made. The animal she met and followed that first night had left before she'd woken up in the tree. But she had seen him around since then. He would greet her with a polite sniff or wag of tail. Though he never lingered around her too long.

She had met other animals as well. She'd even helped some who were stuck in foliage or who couldn't find food on their own. She'd met some local ducks who lingered by a small pond. She enjoyed seeing them so close; in Cloudsdale, the ducks never flew up into the city and only lingered below or outside it. She especially enjoyed holding the ducklings and watching them swim.

She met more of those small, fluffy animals with long back legs and large ears. They seemed to recognize her, and would hop up around her, though only if the larger, orange animal wasn't present. In the absence of other ponies to talk to Fluttershy began telling the animals about her life. She told them all about her younger brother and her parents. She told them about the young rainbow-haired filly who'd stood up for her that day in camp.

On this particular afternoon, Fluttershy was lying in the grass beside the animals with big feet and long ears. She was lounging in the grass on her back, her legs swinging in the air as she told them about how fun, but also how scary it was to meet them all, that first day.

"I just..." She wondered aloud, looking up past the gaps in the trees to the sunny blue sky above. "I just wish I knew how to get back home."

One of the animals beside her made... a noise of some kind, a squeak of some sort. And yet, despite it's nature, she responded.

"Well, I suppose if I could just find that little field and pond again, then I could find my way back home from there... maybe." She replied.

She returned her attention to the sky... then paused. Had she understood the noise it had made? Fluttershy looked again at the animal. Its bright blue eyes stared back at her, and its tiny pink nose twitched. She might've thought she was going crazy.

"...I'm sorry. Um, did you say... something?" She asked, weary of even asking the question to begin with.

The animal chirped again, its small nose twitching faster. It baffled her. Fluttershy knew it had only made a noise, it hadn't really said anything. But she understood it, the intent of the noise it had made.

"Um..." She replied, unsure of what to do with this discovery.

Fluttershy rolled over and sat up, still looking at the small animal. She and it sat in silence for a moment longer, simply staring at each other. The animal scratched its ear, still eyeing Fluttershy.

"So... um. Do you- or would you, happen to um... know where that little field is?" Fluttershy asked hesitantly.

The animal stopped scratching its ear and squeaked again, this time thumping one of its back legs on the ground.

"Oh!" Fluttershy exclaimed, "I mean, um really?"

The animal thumped its foot again.

"Oh, okay." Fluttershy lightly scraped her hoof on the ground. "Do you think that maybe, um, you could take me there?"

She looked solemnly to the side, avoiding the large blue eyes of the animal.

"I've just been so lost, and I don't even know where I am." She glanced at the other small animals that were grazing in the grass nearby.

"I really have enjoyed spending time with you all... but I really need to get home. I-I miss it." The last few words came out strained, and Fluttershy felt her voice begin to crack.

The animal twitched its nose, and without another sound, began bounding off. Fluttershy followed, galloping to keep pace. The animal wasn't moving as fast as it was capable, as Fluttershy learned that these particular ones could run very fast if they wanted to. She appreciated it running at a slower pace for her to keep up with.

The animal leapt over branches and fallen logs. It bounded through shrubbery and trampled over ferns. Fluttershy followed suit, copying the animal's movements rather closely. Her ability to adapt to their methods of movement and lifestyle was what kept her safe and fed in the forest.

Gaps in the tree leaves speckled her coat with spots of sunlight, temporarily warming her as she dashed through the cool, shadowed forest. In the distance, she began to see a sunlit field, a bright green signal drawing her ever closer. Just as they reached the border between the shaded forest and brightly lit field, the animal skidded to a stop.

It stood and sniffed the air, and turned its large blue eyes towards Fluttershy. She too came to a stop on the border of shade and light, and slowly leaned her head forward. Sunlight delicately touched the tip of her snout and shimmered on her pink hair.

The field looked the same, at least as far as she could tell. The same small pond glistened in the afternoon sun. Vibrant flowers were scattered about, freckling the grass in pinks and yellows. Sans the animals that had been there the first day she arrived, the field looked just as inviting and colorful as she remembered.

Fluttershy would have let herself get swept up in the beauty of it all again, if she had not been determined to make it home. And speaking of...

Fluttershy looked up at the blue afternoon sky, hoping to see the silhouette of Cloudsdale at least close by. Surely it would still be floating above... right?

The only clouds she could see were small, thin ones, that couldn't have housed any pegasus. She couldn't see a single pony in the sky... or on the ground. Her heart began thumping in her chest, and she could feel tears beginning to form. She dashed from the edge of the forest out into the field.

She whipped her head around in every direction, looking for any sign of Cloudsdale. She whimpered as tears stung her eyes, blurring her vision. She couldn't see anything. Her home wasn't anywhere in sight.

They couldn't have left already! She was still here! They had to know she was still here... didn't they? Did they even notice she'd fallen out of camp? Did they know she was all the way down here?

Did they know they left her?

Fluttershy whimpered again, and let the tears fall freely. She had finally made it back to where she got lost... Only to find they'd abandoned her anyway. Surely her parents were looking for her. But how would they know to look for her here? No-pony knew she was here, on the ground. She was alone.

Fluttershy was startled from her cries when she felt something brush one of her legs. She looked down to see the small animal, who was currently nestled in the grass by her leg.

Maybe she wasn't entirely alone. These animals had been very kind to her since she'd been lost. They'd shown her how to survive, and she'd helped in turn.

Fluttershy lay down in the grass beside the small animal, and sighed deeply, the last tear running down her cheek and leaving a warm trail on her face.

"I... I don't know how to get home." She sighed, looking up again at the sky.

"But... but I promise I'll help take care of you." She continued, looking at the small, fluffy animal, and lifting a hoof to pet it's back.

"A-and maybe, we can take care of each other. At least... for now."

Chapter 10

Queen Celestia

A tea cup levitated by magic settled onto a similarly decorated plate with a small *clink*. Celestia sighed and returned her attention to the paperwork before her. That was one thing she never found she enjoyed doing as Queen, even after all these years as ruler. And it seemed to her, that as the years went on, and ponykind advanced in technology, the amount of paperwork to be done just kept growing.

"Let's see..." she mused, using her magic to lift up a cup of quills.

The revisions to the west wing needed to be underlined in this form... and the approved projects needed to be circled in red. Now what about the budget reque-

"AH!"

Celestia dropped the quill cup, and lifted a hoof to her head. A sharp, stabbing sensation hit her, jabbing right on her temple, where her horn connected to her skull. She reeled away from her writing desk, her large white wings flailing out in response.

Her horn lit up in a burst of uncontrolled magic. Celestia opened her eyes, hoping to gain some control of this sudden attack. But when she opened her eyes... she was no longer in her study.

She stood in a dimly lit room, the walls composed of old stonework, and the ground beneath her was a faded red carpet. The pain in her head suddenly subsided, now only a dull ache. The room was... familiar. Ahead of her, the room grew bright; several colorful lights were moving towards her, and fast.

As they drew near, she recognized them as the Elements of Harmony. Their small gem-cut shapes became clearer. They flew up to- and then through her! Celestia turned as they flew through her, only feeling a slight chill as they did so. As she turned, the scenery changed around her once more.

Now facing the direction the elements were flying towards, Celestia stood in a dark, overwhelming forest. But, this time, she was not alone. All around her stood silhouettes of ponies, though she could not see them clearly. Their figures were hazy and dark.

Turning her attention back to the elements, she saw them stop some distance ahead of her. They stood still, floating in midair. And from the dark forest, she began to see a figure appear, walking towards the soft glow of the elements.

Her blood ran cold, chilling her entire body. From the deep shadows of the woods, emerged the figure of Nightmare Moon. Like the other ponies, she was not entirely clear in her appearance. But, as she drew nearer to the elements, her figure became more defined. And that same vicious expression... was just the same as it had been nearly one thousand years before.

Celestia watched, drenched in fear, as Nightmare Moon approached the elements. With swift vengeance, she stood and came crashing down on the elements, shattering them into a thousand sparkling pieces.

"NO!" Celestia wailed, bolting forward.

As she lifted her hooves, the scene changed once more. Celestia reeled from the sudden shift, and stumbled as the dark forest faded away. Like watercolor bleeding onto a page, a new scene took over, washing the former darkness in pale sunlight.

Celestia now stood in a room again, this one resembling a hallway from the castle she resided in now. The walls were the same off-white color, decorated in deep purples, vibrant golds, and rich reds. She stood facing a large wooden door, also closely resembling any that could be found in Canterlot Castle.

The door began creaking open, and from it, a bright light poured out. Celestia lifted a wing up to her face in response, squinting. The door creaked open a little more, and from it, four foals came galloping out of the light.

Celestia lowered her wing slowly, letting her eyes adjust to the bright light. They were four unicorn foals... and she recognized one of them... she thought. But, where had she seen them before? This sudden vision held Celestia's mind in a slight daze... she couldn't recall specific details at the moment.

The three other foals, she was sure, she hadn't seen before. They galloped around her, as if she didn't exist at all. They were giggling and bounding around each other, talking excitedly and laughing. Celestia couldn't hear anything they were saying. Their voices were muffled, as though speaking underwater.

She watched them gallop off and out of her sight. They felt... familiar to her, in a way she couldn't describe. She turned back to the open door, each wooden slab now fully open. Celestia closed her eyes, and walked into the brightness. She felt the warmth of the light wash over her, calming her and refreshing her mind.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in her study once more. The vision was over. Celestia lifted her knocked over quills, and gathered the papers she'd been working on, setting them on a nearby shelf. They would have to wait until later.

She had something more pressing to do.

Sunset Shimmer

Sunset sat on a particularly comfortable chair on one of the many balconies lining Canterlot Castle. A small pile of papers and schedules sat on a side table, as well as a sweet, fruity drink she'd requested before the kitchen staff left for the night. Despite the work she was doing, Sunset found she was actually quite comfortable with this evening's setting.

It was surprisingly warm for how late it was, and the schedules she was presented with all seemed to be lining up in her favor. The eraser end of her pencil was clenched between her teeth. Sunset had been so involved in her work, she hadn't even noticed that she'd been chewing on the pencil eraser. She only noticed when she had to remove it to mark down a note on her personal schedule.

"Oh." She remarked, a little grossed out by the chewed rubber bit.

Sunset sighed and set the pencil down, stretching and shifting in her seat. The sun had set only a few minutes ago, and there might still be some more work to do... But Sunset felt it alright to call it a night and settle in for bed. Just as she was lifting her cup to finish the last of her drink- a bright flash of light startled her, and she looked in the direction it came from.

Celestia was now standing on the far side of the balcony. She knew it was a large castle and a lot of ground to cover... but really? Teleportation? Sunset sat upright, desperately hoping that Celestia couldn't read thoughts.

"What is it?" Sunset asked, already gathering up her papers and clipboard. "Is something wrong?"

Celestia smiled and shook her head.

"No Sunset, everything is alright." Celestia replied, opening the glass doors of the balcony with her magic.

"But there is something of importance that I wish to discuss with you, if that is alright." Celestia continued, walking through the door, and holding it open for Sunset.

"Um, yes? I mean- I AM your advisor... after all!" Sunset replied.

Of course, she still wanted to crawl under her sheets, BUT her duty to her queen came first. And although Celestia's tone was calm, Sunset was still weary of her sudden appearance. Something was clearly going on.

Sunset followed Celestia all the way to Celestia's study, placed just above the castle's library. Sunset set down her papers on a small table and continued to Celestia's writing desk. Celestia had not spoken a word as the two walked, and it was beginning to worry Sunset.

Celestia levitated an armchair next to her desk, and sat down. Sunset, eyeing Celestia suspiciously, took a seat on the stool at Celestia's writing desk. When she had still been a student, Celestia often let Sunset use her desk for writing assignments or studying. It was usually a comfortable place for her. Now... not so much.

Sunset cleared her throat and glanced at the desk, noticing a pile of blank scrolls, envelopes, and Celestias' personal wax seal stamp.

"Sunset, do you remember the night that... That I asked you to stay and become my advisor?" Celestia asked.

"You mean the night I was going to betray you?" Sunset thought.

The sting of her "almost-betrayal" coming back in full force. She wondered whether she'd ever be able to move on from that night.

"Yes, I... How could I forget?" Sunset replied, trying her best to keep her tone calm and collected.

"I had mentioned that the day Nightmare Moon... my sister, will return to Equestria... It is not far off from now." Celestia continued.

"Mhm." Sunset replied, unsure of where this was leading.

That information- in the wake of Sunset's breakdown and subsequent promotion- was admittedly brushed aside. Sunset had found it to be of slight interest when Celestia had brought it up, those many months back. But since then, Sunset truly had not given it any further thought.

"I received a vision of her return." Celestia conceded, her eyes sharpening ever-so-slightly as she said this.

"Oh! ...Really?" Sunset stiffened slightly at this mention, her full attention on Celestia's words.

"What did you see?" Sunset asked cautiously.

Celestia's gaze fell, landing on the floor for a moment, then lifted back up to meet Sunset's eyes.

"I saw her destroy the Elements of Harmony." Celestia replied, her tone certain.

Sunset felt her skin tingle, and her hairs stand up. That wasn't possible, right? The Elements of Harmony can't be destroyed; they're meant to be the ultimate magical protectors! Or so everypony had been taught.

"A-are you SURE that's what you saw?" Sunset asked, lifting a hoof onto the desk to steady herself. "Maybe you just had a bad dream?"

"No, Sunset. It was a vision of events yet to come." Celestia lifted a hoof to Sunset's chin, and gave a warm smile.

"But, I believe I also received a vision of how we can prevent that future from taking place." Celestia sighed, lowering her hoof again.

Sunset blinked, mentally resetting herself. None of this was making much sense to her, and Celestia's mostly calm demeanor certainly wasn't helping anything.

"Your highness- Celestia, how- what are you talking about?" Sunset asked, still holding back her full confusion on the matter.

Celestia laughed faintly and stood from her seat, walking around the room slowly, though still addressing Sunset as she did so.

"It is confusing, I understand." Celestia remarked. "It would be a lie to say that I fully understand the vision I received. Visions, in my limited experience, are often like that."

Celestia stood before a tapestry hung on a far wall. A scene of ponies of all kinds playing and living together displayed on it.

"They are not always so obvious. I do not always know what they mean when I receive them." Celestia walked away from the tapestry, and back towards Sunset.

"But, I find that in time... I understand their purpose. Their symbols, their imagery... in time are fully revealed to me." Celestia came up to another tapestry, this one far older and paler than the one before. Two alicorn sisters decorated it, their bodies encircling an intertwined sun and moon.

"I do not wish them to always be that way." Celestia uttered, more to herself than Sunset. "But it is a miracle that I receive them at all."

Celestia returned to her seat beside Sunset, sighing deeply. "Whatever lies ahead... I cannot say for sure; I do not know exactly what lies ahead. But I do know who I trust, and who will help me to understand these things."

Sunset smiled, and glanced at the stack of papers once more. Celestia nodded and settled down in her seat.

"Now," Celestia remarked, "I need you to draft some letters."

Chapter 11

Some weeks later, Stellar Flare was sorting through the morning mail. She was desperately hoping for a letter from her daughter- no matter how many months she went without finding one... she never lost hope of eventually receiving one. If she didn't have Sunburst to look after, she would drop everything and take a train out to Canterlot to visit. Sunset couldn't avoid her mother if they were face-to-face.

Her heart leapt in her chest when she saw an envelope addressed from Canterlot Castle- and stamped with the Queen's official sign! Stellar grinned ear-to-ear and tore open the letter, not wanting to waste another moment. Her smile grew from one of motherly joy to one of motherly pride! Stellar clapped her hooves together and quickly stood from her seat at the kitchen table.

FINALLY! Her boy had been recognized to be as talented as his sister! (Something Stellar always knew, but until now, had no way of proving) He hadn't even earned his cutiemark yet- and here he was, receiving an official summons by the Queen! Stellar gripped the table as she stood. Her head was reeling from such great news. She was just as proud as the day she learned her own daughter was the private student of Celestia.

To think- BOTH of her children were offered such glorious opportunities!

"It's not fair!" Sunburst cried out, covering his head in his hoofs in a duck-and-cover fashion.

Starlight Glimmer, who'd only just come over to play with Sunburst, was... confused, to say the least. She gave her friend a curious look and sat on the floor beside him.

"Uh... what's not fair?" She asked hesitantly.

Starlight wasn't sure she wanted an answer. She'd come over to play games and have fun! Not... whatever this was. But Sunburst was her friend, and he had always asked her what was wrong whenever she felt sad.

Sunburst lifted his head, his mane ruffled from his hooves pinning it down. Starlight giggled at the sight, and quickly stifled her laugh, feeling embarrassed for him. Sunburst ignored her and sat up.

"I have to go do some stupid... school thing." He answered, glaring at the floor in front of them.

"I have to go to school too!" Starlight chuckled, poking Sunburst playfully. "I mean, I don't like school either, but we'll be toge-"

"That's not what I meant!" Sunburst interrupted. He turned his gaze to Starlight, looking more defeated than mad.

"I-I mean-" He continued, "I have to go where my sister went... I'm gonna be really far away... from you..." Sunburst trailed off, looking down at the floor again.

Starlight blinked and sat quietly, processing. After a moment, she nudged him again.

"So... are you... Are you going away forever?" She asked, tears threatening to fall.

Sunburst didn't reply, simply shrugging, still staring at the floor. Starlight lip quivered, and she felt that crying was inevitable. She just didn't want Sunburst to see.

"I-I have to go home now." Starlight said, her voice cracking slightly.

"But we can still play-" Sunburst started, and was interrupted by Starlight standing and galloping out of his family's living room.

Starlight galloped past Sunburst's mother, who was carrying a tray of snacks towards the area she'd just fled from. Stellar Flare stumbled slightly as the small purple foal ran past her and out the front door.

"Hmph! Odd girl." Stellar mused.

Just as the sun was setting over Sire's Hollow, Starlight's father returned from work. Firelight rested his coat on a nearby chair as he walked through the entrance way of his home and into the kitchen. He jumped slightly, hearing a sound echo down from the hall of his home.

"Hello?" He asked, fearfully holding up a wooden spoon with his magic.

Sneaking his way towards the hallway, he held the spoon up higher, as though it would protect him from any on-coming attacks.The door at the end of the hall opened, and Firelight stood taller, trying his best to look intimidating. Starlight stepped out from the room and gave him a curious look.

"What're you doing?" She asked, eyeing the wooden spoon her dad was still holding up.

Firelight breathed a sigh of relief and lowered the spoon.

"Oh good, it's just you." He chuckled, walking back towards the kitchen.

"Yeah... who else would it be?" Starlight replied, half-whispering the last part.

Whether Firelight heard her sarcastic comment or not, he didn't to respond. Setting the spoon back in its spot in the kitchen, he looked at Starlight over his shoulder.

"Well, now what are YOU doing here alone?" Firelight asked, pulling two mugs down from a high-up shelf. "You're supposed to be at Sunbursts, aren't you?"

Starlight took in a deep sigh and pulled out a chair from the kitchen table.

"Yeah... I know." She muttered, folding her hooves over and resting her head on them.

"It's just- honey-bun, I don't want you being at home alone; it isn't very safe, you know!" Firelight continued, digging around a cabinet in search of hot cocoa mix and marshmallows. When he finally found them, he let out a small "Aha!"

"I knooow..." Starlight replied, rolling her head to the side.

Firelight set a pot to boil, and finally turned to face Starlight. He was just about to make another point, about safety and trust... but after looking at Starlight a moment longer, he decided to put off that mini-lecture... for now.

He pulled out a chair across from Starlight and sat down. He too folded his hooves over and rested his head on them, lowering himself to look Starlight in the eyes.

"What's wrong sweet-pea?" He asked.

Starlight glanced away for a moment, and he could see the reluctance in her gaze. But, after a moment, her pale blue eyes returned to him, and she sighed before answering.

"Sunbursts going away... FAR away." She breathed, her eyes glued to the brightly colored tablecloth beneath her head.

"Oh." Firelight replied. He couldn't remember if Stellar or Sunspot had mentioned anything about moving... then again, he hadn't had a full conversation with either of them in recent memory.

"Are Sunburst and his parents moving away?" Firelight asked.

"No." Starlight mumbled, pulling her hooves in closer.

"So... where is Sunburst going?" He asked again, hoping the next response would be more conclusive.

Starlight hesitated for a moment, and when she finally did respond, she began to cry as her words tumbled out.

"He's- He's going to that school thing his sister went to- he's going far, FAR away! I'm never gonna see him ever again!" Starlight cried, hiding her face behind her hooves.

Firelight leaned across the table, his heart shattering at the sight of his daughter crying. He brushed a hoof over her mane and began soothing her cries.

"Hey, whoa, it's okay! It's okay, Starlight." Firelight replied calmly.

Starlight lifted her head up to him, and her light purple coat had been stained by her tears. Firelight looked at her for a moment longer and breathed a deep sigh.

"... It'll be alright Starlight, I promise."

The next morning, Firelight was barely awake, and incredibly worried. He'd been up most of the night, watching over Starlight, and contemplating what to do. He sat in their small, cozy living room, mulling over possible solutions to this dilemma.

Starlight's only real friend was Sunburst... but maybe she could make new friends...? She wasn't the best at socializing with the other foals, Firelight had noticed that much. But perhaps there were others out there who could understand her like Sunburst did... Firelight desperately hoped there were.

He held his head in his hooves and quietly sipped at his lukewarm mug of coffee. Maybe he could ask Sunburst's parents if he REALLY needed to go this school year. This apprenticeship- or whatever it was- could probably wait until next year, or later... right?

Firelight shook his head, verbally responding to his own thought.

"No, Stellar would kill me for even suggesting that."

The metal flap of the front door's mail slot clinking open ripped Firelight from his thoughts. He looked up and saw a small pile of envelopes be pushed through the door and fall to the floor. Firelight took one final sip of his coffee, then stood and trotted over to the door.

He was barely paying attention to the mail as he flipped through the envelopes. His mind had returned to "dad-fix-it" mode. He flipped through the pile and was about to set them down on a nearby shelf, and then paused.

He lifted them back up to his face with a spark of magic and flipped through them again, going in reverse order. One envelope in particular was far larger than the others, and had a stamp seal on the front. Checking the address, he was surprised to see that it had been sent from Canterlot.

Without thinking, he dropped the other letters in his grip and walked with the letter to where he'd been sitting. He quickly flicked on a lamp and sat back down in his armchair. As he slowly peeled back the wax stamp, it hit Firelight where he'd seen that symbol before.

Years back, when Stellar and Sunspot's older daughter had been accepted into the School for Gifted Unicorns, Stellar had been flaunting the acceptance letter for weeks- including the envelop it had been sent it.

"Stamped by Queen Celestia herself!" Is what she'd said. Stellar had made sure everypony in Sire's Hollow knew what her daughter had achieved.

Firelight was hesitant as he opened the envelope and paused for just a moment, staring at the folded paper inside. Was this something similar for his daughter? Or even the same offer? Did he want that for Starlight?

The unopened letter stared back at him, not judging nor pushing, simply waiting to be opened.

"Fine." He muttered, relenting and pulling the folded paper from it's sleeve. Even in the dim morning light, he could see the several lines of dark ink, contrasted against the pale white paper.

Firelight's eyes skimmed over the page at first, only catching a few stray words as he scanned the page. He started back at the top and began reading, slowly and carefully. After reading and re-reading, he slowly lowered the letter back down. He set it on a side table, and lifted a hoof to his head.

His daughter's problems had just been taken care of... but he now held a dilemma of his own.

The high-up city of Canterlot was beginning to experience fall weather sooner than the rest of Equestria. The days were beginning to grow shorter, and the tips of leaves were changing from luscious greens to shades of gold and red. The changing seasons also brought about a sharp, chilly breeze, particularly towards the evening time.

And on this evening, a bitterly cold breeze rolled its way through one of Canterlot's many neighborhoods. The breeze blew down the streets, and rolled over two sisters who were making their way home. Moondancer, and her elder sister shuddered at the sudden chilly breeze, both regretting not bringing a scarf or jacket.

"C-C'mon, we're almost there." Her sister stuttered.

Together, mare and foal began trotting faster down the sidewalk, motivated to return to the warm sanctuary of their home. Just as they arrived at the gate of their yard, her sister stopped and pulled open their mailbox with her magic. Moondancer stomped a small hoof in protest, looking up at her sister in annoyance.

"Nooo! It's cold- let's go inside!" Moondancer squeaked, her tiny voice doing its best to sound demanding.

Her sister rolled her eyes and pulled out the several envelopes stuffed into the mailbox. She held them up with her magic and waved them at Moondancer.

"There- done." She commented, continuing to the gate and opening it, letting Moondancer rush ahead of her to the front door.

Moondancer's sister took her time walking up to the door and unlocking it, rolling her eyes every time Moondancer stomped her tiny hooves in protest. Finally, the door opened and Moondancer dashed inside, happy to be out of the cold. She excitedly ran to the nearest lamp and prodded it with her hoof, trying to turn it on.

When she was unsuccessful at doing so, Moondancer gave a pleading look to her older sister. Her sister rolled her eyes and set down the mail she'd been looking over. Using her horn, she flicked the light on and returned her attention to the stack of envelopes and thin packages. Moondancer hopped up onto a nearby ottoman and wobbled on the overly-stuffed cushion. If she were any smaller, she'd have sunk into the cushion and disappeared entirely.

"You make it look so easy." Moondancer commented, glancing back at the lamp. She marveled at it for a moment- how the light glowed through the brightly colored lamp shade, bringing life to the scene of stars and clouds it portrayed. She heard a "humph" from her sister's direction, and then a reply.

"You'll learn it someday, kid. And besides, turning on a lamp is not some great feat." Her sister replied.

She was about to continue her train of thought when she paused and held up one particular envelope above the rest. It had the royal crest stamped on it's front. She flipped over the envelope several times, wondering what to do with it. Better wait until their father returned, she thought.

"What're you looking at?" Moondancer asked. She'd moved from her seat on the ottoman to standing beside her sister, standing on her hind-legs to see above the table-top. She could only barely see the stacks of papers from her spot.

"Nothing." Her sister replied. "C'mon, let's get cleaned up before Dad gets home."

"Twilight, sweetheart! Could you come in here?" Velvet called, her words echoing through their home.

Twilight only mildly reacted to the call, setting down the books she'd been reading. Since her failed exam, Twilight had found it hard to read about magic and spells anymore. The only literature she found herself enjoying was stories and fairy tales. They at least provided an outlet for her to escape to.

She considered ignoring her mother's call altogether. Her father and mother had been encouraging her not to give up- to "keep trying" at magic. Their words had fallen on deaf ears. If Twilight couldn't be taught by the greatest magic teachers out there- she didn't see the point in trying.

"Twilight?" Velvet called again, her voice sounding closer.

Twilight sighed and stood up from her seat in her window. The late afternoon sun had been warming her coat, and now that she'd left its light, she felt the coolness of the rest of her room.

Twilight trotted out of her room and down the hall and stairs. Her parents were sitting in their pseudo library room- which was really just a living room with several bookshelves lining the walls. They called it their own "library" for fun.

Twilight slowed her trot as she entered the living room. Her parents were... smiling? Well, more grinning, ear-to-ear kind of smile. They smiled a lot, or at least a lot as Twilight saw it. But THIS grin was more one that was only seen on special occasions, like when her brother had been accepted into the Canterlot Guarding Academy.

She continued into the living room and jumped onto their couch. She kept eyeing her parents suspiciously. Just as any other foal would do in her circumstance... Twilight decided voice her main concern.

"...Am I in trouble?" She asked. She didn't have any real reason to ask this, but her parents' behavior was... slightly off-putting.

Their grins slipped as they chuckled, Velvet waving a hoof as if she'd just heard a hilarious joke.

"No! No Twilight, it's alright." Night Light laughed. As he laughed, the paper he was holding crinkled slightly, bringing it to Twilight's attention.

"No, nothing like that." Velvet replied, sitting down next to Twilight on the couch. She lifted a hoof and brushed it over her daughter's mane.

"It's actually wonderful news." Night Light continued, lifting up the paper with his magic and floating it over to Twilight. He held it in midair for a moment, allowing Twilight to scan it over. It was written at a higher reading level than she understood. But it looked important.

As she read down, she felt her heart jump at seeing the signature. This paper had been written by Queen Celestia- it was signed by her! Had she been re-considered for her magic school?!

Twilight shot her eyes up to her mother, pointing at the paper with enthusiasm.

"W-what is that? Am I going to her school?!" Twilight squealed.

Velvet chuckled again, more softly this time. "No, sweetie, it's not that. It's something better, actually."

Twilight's eyebrow twitched, and she gave her mother a curious look. "What could be better than that?"

Night Light floated the paper back to himself, and held it in his hooves as he responded.

"Well, kid, this paper here says that you've been chosen for..." He lifted the paper up to his eyes and squinted slightly. "An exclusive apprenticeship under the guidance of Queen Celestia, and her consultants."

Twilight blinked, still somewhat confused.

"It means, Twilight, that you're going to be training under Queen Celestia and whatever teachers she chooses. Instead of being in a classroom, you and a few other chosen foals are going to be taught by her!" Velvet said, her previous proud grin returning as she spoke.

Twilight sat, starry-eyed, her mind reeling from this news. She'd failed- she hadn't passed her test, and yet- here it was! The most amazing offer she'd ever been given!

...Was it real?

Twilight looked to her mother, then her father, excitement and anticipation bubbling up inside her.

"I'm- I'm awake, right? This is real- it's not a dream?" She asked, feeling so overjoyed- she'd swear she could fly.

Night Light and Velvet smiled, and laughed lightly.

"You're right, kid- it's all a dream!" Night Light laughed.

"How dare you!" Velvet replied, grabbing a throw pillow from the couch and playfully tossing it at Night Light. He laughed harder at that.

"You're not dreaming Twilight; this is real." Velvet reached a hoof over and pulled her daughter into a hug. Twilight squeezed her back, ecstatic over what she'd just heard.

"When can I go- when do I start?!" Twilight asked, letting go of her mother's grasp.

"When the next school year begins." Velvet replied.

"So in um..." Twilight stared at the floor, trying desperately to remember when the school year was set to start.

"Three weeks." Velvet commented.

"Oh! Yeah, three weeks!" Twilight replied, as if she'd just been on the verge of the same answer.

"Three weeks. Three weeks..." She trailed off, losing herself in thoughts of what the future would hold.

Sunset Shimmer stood in front of two large wooden doors that led into the foyer of the Castle. Not unlike several months back, when she'd first been appointed Celestia's advisor, she was... uneasy about what stood on the other side. Though this time, for very different reasons.

Sunset had tried not to let on how unsure she was of Celestia's whole... project. She'd thought it was just something Celestia felt guilted into doing, after receiving her supposed vision. But when Sunset finalized the letters and saw them off, she realized how serious Celestia was taking this idea of hers.

Sure, it was probably important that Celestia find a new personal student. It made sense- Sunset was no longer in that position; she'd been promoted. But FOUR students- and all at once- it didn't make sense.

Until Celestia brought up that Sunset was to be an additional teacher to these students. Now Sunset had personal stakes in this whole affair. Truthfully, she didn't hate the idea of being a teacher... but she wasn't sure she had the... patience for it.

But, if Celestia truly saw them playing a part in saving Equestria again, and if Celestia truly trusted Sunset like she said she did... Then it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. After all, Sunset had been taught by the wisest magical wielder in all of Equestria. SURELY she was capable of passing that knowledge and talent down to newer generations.

She hoped she was, anyway.

"Are you ready, Sunset?" Celestia asked.

Sunset blinked, returning to reality from the deep well of her thoughts.

"Um, yeah. I am, I am ready." She replied, lighting her horn with magic, and pushing open the large wooden doors.

She and Celestia walked out and nodded to the ponies gathered in the foyer. Of course, there was one thing that bothered Sunset greatly about this whole arrangement.

Before either mare could get a word out, a small, bright orange colt bolted to Sunset and wrapped his hooves around her leg. Sunset grunted, and looked down at her younger brother, grimacing slightly. For some reason Sunset couldn't fathom... her brother had been chosen by Celestia.

And that meant having to see her mother.

"Sunburst, really!" Stellar Flare yelped, rushing over to her two children. She quickly pulled Sunburst back from Sunset and nodded nervously at Celestia.

"We're in the presence of ROYALTY- we need to have good manors!" She hissed, pulling Sunburst as she walked back to where her husband stood.

"But it's-" Sunburst started, before Stellar cupped a hoof over his mouth.

"I am SO sorry your majesty!" Stellar winced, glancing at Celestia nervously.

Celestia smiled, laughing faintly as she replied. "That's quite alright, I can understand his excitement."

With that, Celestia queued Sunset to begin their opening remarks.

"As I can understand the excitement all of you must be feeling. You are being presented with an amazing opportunity. Under my guidance, and the guidance of my faithful advisor," Celestia lifted a wing and unfolded it beside Sunset.

Sunset lifted a nervous hoof and waved to the gathered families, smiling slightly.

"Your children will learn to wield the magic inside them and be faithful in their studies and work. It is in them that the future of Equestria lies." Celestia remarked, her voice strong and passionate as she spoke.

Sunset cleared her throat and stepped forward. "There is no greater honor for us than to teach, train, and guide your children into becoming the powerful ponies that they have the potential to be."

The gathered parents clapped their hooves, and Sunset spotted tears in the corners of some parents' eyes. As she suspected, though, there were none in her own parents. They were not the senti-mental type, especially not her mother. Instead, her mother wore the same, over-joyous beam of pride that Sunset had seen often enough to know the trouble it came with.

"We will give you time to say your goodbyes. The student's luggage will be brought in by Castle staff. If you wish to send letters, please leave your addresses with me before you leave." Sunset called out, making sure she made eye-contact as she over viewed the room.

With that, each parent looked to their own child and began speaking to them. It touched Sunset to see how the parents spoke to their children, their expressions soft and compassionate. The mild joy Sunset received from this was quickly extinguished, when she saw her mother approaching her again.

"Mom." Sunset sighed.

"Advisor!" Stellar chirped, lifting a hoof to admire the sash and broach Sunset wore. "I didn't know you were PROMOTED!"

Sunset slowly pushed her mother's hoof away and breathed deeply, trying her best to ignore the urge to speak her true inner thoughts.

"Yeah, Mom. I'm her advisor. It's not that big of a deal." Sunset mused, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

"NOT a big deal? Ha! I beg to differ!" Stellar chortled, brushing at her own pale blue sash. "Why didn't you write to me about it- when did this even happen? Last time I heard from you, you were still just her student!"

"It- Does it really matter, Mom?" Sunset huffed. "I mean- this is about Sunburst- not me, right? Let's just be proud of him, okay?"

Stellar lifted her eyebrows, and Sunset saw her contemplate whether she would let that slide. Stellar turned and looked back at Sunburst and Sunspot. From the distance, neither could hear their conversation, though both could tell they were happily talking.

"Hmph." Stellar relented, and turned back to Sunset. "Fine. But I expect you AND your brother to write to me once a week, EVERY week, alright?"

Sunset caught herself before she cold roll her eyes. She leaned her head back and uttered, "Okay."

Stellar seemed to take that as a final answer.

"Good, good." Stellar commented. She hesitated for a moment, lifted her leg, then drew it back down.

"Well... I suppose your father and I should be heading back. It's quite the trip back to Sire's Hollow." With that, Stellar began to walk away. She stopped after a few steps and turned back to Sunset.

Sunset met her mother's eyes, and for just a moment, glimpsed a mare who was vulnerable... or at least capable of it. Then, just as quickly, that mare vanished, and her mother as she knew her took her place.

"Take care of your brother- and don't give him special treatment just because he's related to you. It's vital he learns the importance of hard work." Stellar said, lifting her head high as she spoke.

Sunset simply nodded, hoping that would be enough to satiate her mother. It was.

Stellar nodded back, and smiled as she returned to her husband and her son. Sunset watched as Stellar gave Sunburst an exasperating hug. She swore he turned purple for a second from the force of the hug.

Before long, the parents all filed out of the foyer and were guided back to a set of carriages by the castle guards. Sunset and Celestia now stood before the four chosen students. It was awkward for Sunset, and she figured it would be that way for quite some time. Aside from her brother, she hadn't spent much time around foals... she really didn't know what to expect from them.

They each looked at Sunset and Celestia with wide, curious eyes. They were so small, and none had their cutiemarks yet. Their innocent stance reminded Sunset of her own test at Celestia's school all those years ago. Sunset wondered if she'd looked like them, innocent, small, and curious of the world around her.

Slowly, another thought began to enter. SHE was responsible for them, for their training and their minds. SHE was to teach and guide them in their magic... and their future lives. If Celestia's vision was true, they were to be the answer to Nightmare Moon's return.

Sunset had quite the task laid out before her.